Marathon Pundit: Iowa I Opener: Elk Horn and its Danish windmill

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Iowa I Opener: Elk Horn and its Danish windmill

Danish windmill, Elk Horn

In 1848, two years after Iowa achieved statehood, the windmill on the left was built in Nørre-Snede, Denmark. Over 100 years later, Harvey Sornson, who lived near Elk Horn, Iowa, the subject of my last series post and the home of the Danish Immigrant Museum, thought that the town needed a windmill as a tourist attraction to revitalize the tiny village. So $30,000 was raised and the Nørre-Snede windmill, which was slated to be torn down, was shipped to Elk Horn in 1976. By the time the mill was reconstructed, expenses incurred had climbed to almost $100,000.

The ~~Nørre-Snede~~ Elk Horn Mill is a smock mill.

The residents of the western Iowa town thought that the bringing the mill to America would be a fine way to celebrate our bicentennial. While at the immigration museum, I learned something new--the largest 4th of July celebration outside the United States is held at Rebild Bakker, a national park in Denmark. George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan have spoken at Rebild 4th of July gatherings. The event will be celebrating its centennial in 2012.

If I return to Denmar--I was in Copenhagen in 1994--it will have to be on July 4th at Rebild Bakker.

On the windmill grounds is a VikingHjem, a recreation of a 10th century Scandinavian smithy's home. Vikings who journeyed to Greenland, Iceland, and yes, North America lived in such dwellings. Adjacent to to the windmill is a gift shop and an Iowa Welcome Center. I bought some lingonberry jam for Mrs. Marathon Pundit.

Elk Horn has another claim of distinction. It has the nation's highest concentration of electric vehicle recharging stations.