Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Icelanders in North Dakota

Looking for some photos of Iceland that I haven't posted before and I have 2000 to sort through. I realized I had not published any of the Hosfos exhibit of Icelanders who immigrated to North Dakota. In my narrow view I didn't realize that Icelanders had immigrated to other places than Utah and for other reasons than a religious conversion. They came to many parts of North America: North Dakota, Minnesota, Washington as well as to Canada. Here's a look at the excellent exhibit of the history of those who chose to leave Iceland. (Above photo Pam a descendent of North Dakota Icelandic emigrants returns in the summer to Hosfos Museum to help others with their Icelandic research.)

Map of areas of Iceland where the immigrants left from.
My ancestors came from the Westman Islands in the southwest.

Economic as well as climate considerations motivated the immigrants.

Historic photo of Iceland in winter

Summertime in Hosfos, Iceland



S.D. homesteads (above) looked much like primitive dwellings in Iceland



Farming was the only way to survive in No. Dakota.
(All photos and signs from Hosfos Museum in Iceland.)