Giants of the Earth Heritage Center

Giants of the Earth Heritage Center

Giants of the Earth Heritage Center at the historic Ballard Hotel
Established	2009 (2009)
Location	163 West Main Street, Spring Grove, Minnesota
Coordinates	43.5606°N 91.6384°W / 43.5606; -91.6384
Type	History
Website	https://giantsoftheearth.org

The Giants of the Earth Heritage Center is a non-profit historical society located in Spring Grove, Minnesota, the state's first Norwegian settlement.[1] Established in 2009, the center's mission is to honor, preserve, and interpret the history and heritage of the people from Spring Grove's Norwegian Ridge in southeastern Minnesota.[2]

Programs and services

The center offers a variety of programs and services, including:

• Genealogy services: They can help people explore their family histories, create family trees, connect with relatives, and preserve family stories and artifacts.
• Educational programs: They offer educational programs on a variety of topics related to history, culture, and genealogy. These programs are designed for people of all ages.[3]
• Community events: They host a variety of community events throughout the year, such as festivals, lectures, and workshops.
• The center also has a gallery that exhibits the history and culture of Spring Grove Norwegian Ridge area.[4]

Exhibit "Peter, Ola, and Per"

"Peter, Ola, and Per" opened March 16, 2023. The exhibit explores cartoonist Peter J. Rosendahl, and his Norwegian-American comic strip "Han Ola og han Per" that chronicled the lives and adventures the adventures of two Norwegians who immigrated to America.[5] The comic strip ran from 1918 until 1935.[6]

Images

• 
  Interactive entrance graphic
• 
  Video commentary by Robert Bly
• 
  Objects from Rosendahl's life
• 
  Display island
• 
  Drawing table replica

See also

• Giants in the Earth (novel)

References

1. "Norwegian Immigration to Minnesota | MNopedia". www.mnopedia.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
2. Christenson, Jerome (2011-07-17). "Day trip: Decorah, Spring Grove offer all things Norwegian". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
3. "Reminiscing old-time experiences with Giants of the Earth". hometownsource.com. 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
4. "About Giants". Giants of the Earth Heritage Center. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
5. "Phase 3 Exhibit Production: "Peter, Ola, and Per; A Creative Heritage"". Minnesota's Legacy. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
6. "Han Ola og han Per". www.hadelandlag.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.