Ballard’s Nordic Museum
Ballard is one of Seattle’s hippest neighborhoods. It is home to breweries, trendy restaurants, and indie shops. Historically Ballard’s culture is primarily Scandinavian. Ballard still celebrates it’s Scandinavian roots with big festivals. Every May 17th Ballard celebrates Syttende Mai, which includes the largest Syttende Mai parade outside of Norway. Summer festivals of Seafood fest, and Viking days, Fisherman’s Fall Festival and Winter Yulefest. Ballard is also home to the Nordic Museum. A museum full of history and stories.
My grandmother’s family came from Sweden, so this museum made my heart feel like it had a connection to family. It was surprising how many of the Nordic values and ways of life have been passed down and resonate with me.
Start your tour with their traveling exhibit: Vikings Begin.

Warrior Helmet
from Valsgarde boat grave 8-
7th CenturyWarrior Sword
from Vlalsgarde boat grave 5/7
7th Century

The museum staff and volunteers were a wealth of knowledge.


Sharing the steps and his passion with visitors.
Nordic Journeys
This is the Nordic Museum’s permanent exhibit. It is made up of five galleries: Nordic Orientation Gallery, Sense of Place, Nordic Region, Nordic American, and Nordic Perspective forum.
Nordic Orientation Gallery
What does it mean to be Nordic? The different Nordic countries have their own history and character, but they share common values and perspectives. Learn about each country in this gallery before you embark upstairs to the sense of place gallery.

Rorstand Coffee Set 1959 Fika; In Sweden the daily practice of taking short coffee breaks. Fika is an opportunity to engage in pleasant conversation, exchange ideas, or simply relax with friends. Our Swedish Heritage
Sense of Place Gallery
The sense of place gallery, located upstairs has seating to view a film full of majestic scenery of the different Nordic regions.
The Nordic Region Gallery
With artifacts and facsimiles from thousands of years ago; a story of how the worshipers of the old gods adopted Christianity in the 12th century unfolds, leading up to the Lutheran reformation, and modern Nordic society.


Side Saddle from Norway- 1797
Nordic American Gallery
Here you will find information and artifacts on the Nordic Americans, immigration, and way of life.

Right to left: Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden
Nordic Perspectives
In the Nordic Perspective Forum you learn about the “Nordic Way”. Modern values of openness, social justice, connection to nature, and innovations from these countries. Even our beloved Washington state plans to follow Norway’s example of an electric ferry Norway debuted in 2014, to replace diesel ferries.
Environmentally friendly designers find new way to use the bounty of the ocean “North Sea: sneakers 100% natural and sustainable product- including fish leather
It is obvious that there is a lot of passion and dedication that went into this heritage museum. The building design itself creates a sense of place. The exhibits are well done and very informative.

When you are finished enjoying the exhibits, have a late lunch that is a fusion of Nordic and PNW cuisine, at their cafe, Freya.
Eat like a Modern Day Viking We split the Hound @ Freya’s

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