By Senators Liias, Carlyle, Pedersen, Keiser, Frockt, Nelson, Takko, and Van De Wege

WHEREAS, Nordic peoples emigrated to the Pacific Northwest for the beauty of our landscape, which reminded them of the fjords and forests of their native land; and

WHEREAS, After over 150,000 Nordic immigrants settled in the Pacific Northwest between 1890 and 1910, Washington has one of the highest populations of people of Nordic descent in the United States and the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle has become the Scandinavian culture capitol of the West; and

WHEREAS, Nordic Americans have had a huge influence on Washington business and culture that continues to this day, such as the founding of Swedish Hospital – the only hospital west of the Mississippi to offer cancer care before 1932 – and the Nordstrom department store – which has become the third largest retailer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Nordic culture and history continues to be an integral part of Washington life and the Nordic Heritage Museum is the premier institution for learning about the impacts they have had on the region; and

WHEREAS, The Nordic Heritage Museum has been serving Western Washington from the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle since 1980, to, "Honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden"; and

WHEREAS, The Nordic Heritage Museum seeks to, "Share Nordic culture with people of all ages and backgrounds by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, providing educational and cultural experiences, and serving as a community gathering place"; and

WHEREAS, The Nordic Heritage Museum houses 77,000 items in their permanent collection and has rotating exhibits highlighting different areas of Scandinavian culture, new and old, and the progress that they have made for all Americans; and

WHEREAS, The focus on Nordic folk art, textiles, and crafted items shows a methodical and hardworking people who are in touch with their distinctive roots; and

WHEREAS, The Nordic Heritage Museum uses many Nordic design aesthetics and concepts to integrate Nordic sensibility and ideals, like environmental sustainability, while also building expanded exhibition and educational spaces to better serve the community; and

WHEREAS, The Nordic Heritage Museum reopens in their new location and building on May 5, 2018, to celebrate and honor the contributions Nordic peoples have made to American culture;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the opening of the new Nordic Heritage Museum.