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.
Thanks Lizzie… Your blog has inspired me to share some of my own historical research and Open University teaching experience too. Not yet – still hesitating.
Thanks especially for the Black Lives Matter post – and I’m aware, of course, that NT work on colonialism has been criticised.
My family – including my maternal grandfather were outspokenly and actively anti-racist, but DNA confirmation of, significant Nigerian/Yoruba ancestry has had a greater personal impact than I had expected.
Thank you so much, that is so kind! And I definitely felt I couldn’t write a history blog and include that post – it’s something I want to constantly update and make sure I’m paying attention to. I can imagine that must have been! I really look forward to reading what you share – it is always quite a personal journey!