Swedish Seattle

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Swedish immigrants began arriving in Seattle in the 1880s, and by 1900 had formed a thriving community of churches, businesses, social clubs, labor organizations, choruses, and dance groups, as well as a Swedish-language press. Their civic accomplishments are exemplified by well-known Seattle institutions founded by Swedish immigrants, including a national department store chain and a world-class medical facility, which began as Swedish Hospital. The story of the Swedish community in Seattle is also a personal history of families and friends building a new life as Americans. Swedish culture is perhaps most publicly visible in annual celebrations such as Midsummer and Lucia. A lively local interest in Swedish music and dance suggests that Swedish Seattle is not limited to residents who happen to be of Swedish descent.

Info autore

Paul Norlen, the grandson of Swedish immigrants, is a translator, editor, and freelance writer. He has taught Swedish language courses, published articles about 20th-century Swedish writers, and has been actively involved with local organizations such as the Swedish Cultural Center. He lives with his family in Seattle. Gathered from public archives, private collections, and family albums, the images in Swedish Seattle show a community celebrating its traditions and achievements--and simply having a good time--for more than a century.