From May 23-28, 1939, Norway's Crown Prince Olav (1903-1991) and his wife, Princess Martha (1901-1954), visited Washington State during a West Coast tour on the eve of World War II. Among other activities, they spent a day skiing at Paradise on Mount Rainier and attended the dedication of the Stanwood monument honoring the first Norwegian settler on Puget Sound, Zakarias Martin Taftezon (1821-1901). The prince also spoke at a meeting of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the Norwegian Commercial Club.
The program pictured here is from an evening event attended by the royal couple at the Civic Auditorium which featured the Norwegian Male Chorus, conducted by University of Washington School of Music professor August Hansen Werner (1893-1980). Governor of Washington Clarence D. Martin (1889-1955) spoke at the event, as did Seattle Mayor Arthur B. Langlie (1900-1966).
Prince Olav was a much-loved symbol of national unity for Norwegians, even after the Royal Family was forced to flee Norway when it was bombed by Germany. Throughout WWII the crown prince made other trips to the U. S. as envoy in exile, returning to Seattle in 1942 to discuss Norway's position as a country occupied by German troops. The prince became King Olav V in 1957 and again visited Seattle in 1968 and 1975.
Caption information source: "Norway's Crown Prince Olav skis at Mount Rainier on May 24, 1939," by John W. Lundin, HistoryLink.org Essay 10974. Caption information source: "Norwegian Royal Party Visits in State," The Seattle Daily Times, May 23, 1939, p. 7.
Physical Description: 1 folded program ; 6.5 x 9.5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
