information from the National Nordic Museum
 

Legislation designating Seattle’s Nordic Museum as the National Nordic Museum was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday evening.

The designation was included as part of a comprehensive public lands package. Identical legislation, spearheaded by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, has already passed the U.S. Senate on February 12. The package, including the National Nordic Museum designation, is now headed to the President’s desk for his consideration and signature.

“We appreciate the work that Senator Cantwell and the entire Washington State delegation have done to make this national designation possible,” said Eric Nelson, executive director and CEO of the Nordic Museum. “This national designation does not require any taxpayer dollars, but it will help us to reach more people and build stronger economic and cultural bonds between the Nordic region and the United State, particularly here in Washington State where one out of every 8 residents claims Nordic heritage.”

If signed into law by the President, Nelson said that designation as the National Nordic Museum would strengthen the museum’s ability to generate support from the private sector and Nordic institutions to advance its mission. 

The Nordic Museum is the only museum in the United States that showcases the impact and influence of Nordic values and innovation in contemporary society and tells the story of 12,000 years of Nordic history and culture, across all five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the autonomous areas of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Åland Islands, and the Sápmi region of Northern Europe.

The Museum recently relocated to a stunning new home in the heart of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, and has generated regional, national and international acclaim.

“This National Nordic Museum designation is a wonderful tribute to all of the time and energy and resources our community has put into this institution over the past 40 years,” Nelson said. “We look forward to using this designation to increase economic and cultural ties with the Nordic countries, and attracting more tourism and economic activity and world-class exhibitions and programming to Seattle and Washington State in general.”