Solvang – a Danish town in… Southern California?!

Founded in 1911 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang was founded by a group of Danish-Americans who travelled from Iowa out west, attempting to get away from the harsh Midwestern winters.

They bought 9,000 acres worth of land, formerly of Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, and began to build a new community that honoured their Danish heritage. This included both a Danish folk school and Church.

In 1991, a replica of the Rundetårn, or Round Tower, in Copenhagen (at a third of the scale!) was completed.


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