Iowa All Over: Denmark on the Prairie

Situated between Des Moines and Omaha along Interstate 80, Elk Horn, in Shelby County, is one of the largest rural Danish settlements in the country.

Throughout the town, population 662, there is a visible connection to Denmark. The city features an authentic operating Danish windmill and a multilevel museum dedicated to the town's Danish-American heritage.

The Museum of Danish America opened in June 1994. The museum is dedicated solely to telling the Danish immigration story.

Starting on the lower level, explanatory panels highlight how a scarcity of enough jobs for a growing population pushed Danes in the mid-1800s to leave for the United States. In total, some 300,000 Danes headed to this country between 1865 and 1914, according to exhibits.

By 1870, Baptist pathfinders reached Shelby County in Western Iowa. According to records in the museum, in the 1890s and the first decade of the 20th century, Iowa attracted the most Danish immigrants. Others settled in Nebraska and in North and South Dakota.

Once here, many Danish immigrants believed that assimilating into American society promised greater rewards.

In addition to the museum's permanent exhibit, visitors have the opportunity to learn about Danish-American traditions in other ways. Skal, an exhibit on Scandinavian spirits, explores the role of aquavit — a distilled liquor flavored with caraway and other herbs and spices — and beer as part of Scandinavian heritage.

There also is a glass and mosaics exhibit and a photo genealogy exhibit.

John Mark Nielsen, the museum's executive director, admits that while many in Elk Horn are extremely proud of their Danish heritage, 'Whether or not that has been passed on to the younger generation is a question. It's part of that whole evolution of a community.

'While Elk Horn continues to have a strong Danish tradition, it has been evolving.'

Nielsen attributes that shift to the movement of young people to bigger cities. New residents to Elk Horn may not possess strong Danish traditions, he said.

But the community's commitment to its Danish heritage remains strong.

'The fact that the community has come together at various points to support expressions of Danish heritage …

the decision to put it (the museum) here was in large part thanks to the community grass roots enthusiasm for the idea,' said Tova Brandt, curator of Danish American culture at the Museum of Danish America.

Also in Elk Horn is Café Copenhagen, the Danish Inn and Larsen's Catering and Pub, which offers Danish meat and cheese to go.

More Danish goods can be found at Danish Countryside Vines and Wines, Danish Country Vin Hus, the Danish Windmill gift shop and Fajen Lumber gift shop.

Historic Bedstemor's House, owned and operated by the museum, is furnished in the period of 1910 and 1920, when young Danish-American families lived here. The house is open for tours from May through September.

'By pointing to more visual public expressions, like the museum, like the windmill, like Tivoli Fest, those are now the expressions of the Danish identity in the town,' Brandt said. 'To participate in those does not require that you have Danish DNA.'

If you go

What: Museum of Danish America

Where: 2212 Washington St., Elk Horn

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m., Sunday

Admission: $5

Call (712) 764-7001 or go to danishmuseum.org