Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon is marking the 200th anniversary of organised emigration from his homeland to the US with the visit to the state.
The heir to the Norway throne arrived in Minneapolis on Monday night and will remain in Minnesota on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, October 7, the Minnesota trip highlighted the close ties between the two countries, with the Upper Midwest being home to the largest concentrations of Scandinavian Americans in the US.
Haakon’s visit is part of the Crossings 200 commemorations across North America this year.
Nearly 5 million North Americans now claim Norwegian ancestry. The US was a relatively welcoming place for Scandinavians during the main waves of emigration that began in the 1800s. They were drawn to the Upper Midwest by cheap land and jobs.
Ahead of the key visit, Haakon…
