Your Guide to Visiting the Scandinavian Heritage Park
Visitors are welcome to walk around this free park year-round. From May 17th through September, the Gol Stave Church and Heritage House are open for interior guided tours—available Monday–Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 4 PM (weather permitting).
Check Out a Stave Church
The Gol Stave Church
One of only 8 full-scale replicas in the United States, the Gol Stave Church is a recreation of a medieval church from Gol, Norway, originally built in the 1200s. Constructed without a single nail, it’s built using a traditional tongue-and-groove technique and features hand-carved Nordic artwork.
This 60-foot-tall structure honors Scandinavian immigrants who, encouraged by the Homestead Act of 1862, left their homelands in search of a new life in North Dakota, where they could claim public land if they were to build a home and cultivate the area.Â
A Piece of Norway in North Dakota
Sigdal House
Disassembled in Norway, then shipped to the US, and rebuilt by Norwegian carpenters, The Sigdal House is the oldest house in the state of North Dakota. This traditional log home was built in 1771 in Vatnas, Norway and lived in until the 1930s.
If you walk inside or look in the window, you’ll see Sig the Troll, who lives there – snap a photo of him if you like.Â
Stabbur House
The Stabbur House was constructed in Norway, shipped to North Dakota, and reassembled by craftsman Ottar Romtveit. This replica of an 18th-century Stabbur from Telemark, Norway, was designed to keep food cold and dry. They were also a marker for a farm’s wealth and status with their intricate carvings.Â
Trolls in Scandinavian Culture
Say Hello to Thorvald the Troll
Trolls are legendary figures in Scandinavian folklore, often lurking in the mountains or under bridges. But Thorvald the Troll is different—he’s friendly, photogenic, and welcomes visitors inside the Visitor Center.
Hand-carved from wood, Thorvald and his intricately detailed bench are beloved features of the park and a favorite stop for kids and families. Snap a photo with him and share it with us on social media.Â
A Symbol of Sweden
Dala Horse
Walk under the 27 feet tall Dala Horse, which stands as a tribute to Swedish immigrant culture. These hand-carved, brightly painted horses originated in Dalarna, Sweden, and were once whittled by parents for their children.
Be sure to stop by the Gift Shop inside the Visitor Center, where you can purchase your very own authentic Swedish Dala Horse to take home as a keepsake.
Meet Legendary Scandinavian Figures
Throughout the park, you’ll encounter statues and stories honoring great Nordic figures, including:
- Leif Erickson – The Norse explorer credited with reaching North America before Columbus
- Casper Oimoen – Olympic skier and longtime Minot resident
- Sondre Norheim – Known as the Father of Modern Skiing
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Stop to see the Sondre Norheim Eternal Flame, lit from a fireplace in his birthplace in Morgedal, Norway, and transported to Minot in 1993.
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Follow the path next to the Stabbur House to the Heritage House Museum – filled with Scandinavian artifacts, many of them brought by immigrants when they came to the area.Â
Nordic Traditions & Annual Festivals
The park is also the location for cultural events and festivals, including:
Syttende Mai – May 17
Celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day with a flag parade, Norwegian songs, and traditional food to open the park for the season.
Midsummer Festival – June 20 & 21
Welcome summer with live music, dancing, vendors, and the nightly bonfire during this FREE fun, family-friendly event.