Iowa's Charming Town Of Elk Horn Is Home To A Little Slice Of Denmark Right Here In America
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Kim Magaraci
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If you’re always looking for a unique day trip destination in the Hawkeye State, make plans to head to Shelby County and visit an authentic Danish-American village in Iowa. The town of Elk Horn is one of a kind!
Together, with the neighboring village of Kimballton, these Danish villages are home to about 1,000 Iowans, many of whom have roots that trace back to the villages' founding in the early 1900s.
It was built in Norre Snede, Denmark, and it took over $100,000 to move the windmill across the ocean and country to its current spot in 1976. Now, Danish law prohibits any windmills from leaving the country, so the Elk Horn mill is the only authentic Danish windmill in America.
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The chapel was built in 1951 by Danish immigrants and recently added to the complex. It was once called the world's tiniest church.
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The Museum showcases the life of Danish-Americans over the past 120 years. You'll learn so much about both the Hawkeye State and the Danish culture.
Whether you're looking for contemporary art or historic artifacts, you'll find plenty to discover here.
This was the actual home of a Danish-American who lived in North Dakota. Dixon was a teacher, and his tiny home was his schoolhouse.
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This historic home was built by a Danish immigrant in 1908. Bedstemor means "grandmother" in Danish, and the home has been restored to a replica of its original self. You can see just how Danish-Americans lived at the turn of the century.
You'll find this replica of Viking Smithy's home and can see what a blacksmith shop and Nordic home would have looked like in the year 900. This unique house is located next to the Danish Windmill.
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Find more information about the charming Iowa village of Elk Horn on the town’s website, here.
To learn more about the neighboring village of Kimballton, read about The Iowa Park That Will Make You Feel Like You Walked Into A Fairy Tale.
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Elk Horn, IA 51531, USA