VISITDENMARK LAUNCHES NEW “HERITAGE” SITE ENABLING AMERICANS TO TRACE THEIR DANISH ANCESTRY

-Denmark Hosts Largest July 4^th Celebration Outside of U.S.  -

(New York, June 29, 2009) – For the 1.5 million people in the U.S. of Danish heritage who seek to learn more about their lineage – or for others with strong interest in exploring Danish history and traditions – VisitDenmark, the official tourism office of Denmark has launched a new microsite:  www.visitdenmark.com/heritage.  The site enables Danish-American visitors to discover and celebrate their Danish heritage via a link guide that helps research Danish roots while providing information on the history and patterns of Danish immigration to the U.S.

Practical ideas and instructions for organizing a Danish heritage trip to explore specific ancestral regions are offered, along with tempting and often familiar descriptions of regional cuisine available to today’s travelers to the “old country.” Travel tips and suggested accommodations include valuable information on programs that provide personal introductions to Danish families, and even home-cooked meals, as part of the “Dine with the Danes” program www.dinewiththedanes.dk.  Meeting the locals is also possible through such accommodations as a B&B, traditional inn, working farm or house-swapping program.      

Contemporary visitors can walk in the footsteps of their ancestors at living history museums and open-air museums located throughout the country, including the Open Air Museum “Frilandsmuseet,” the Old Town Museum in Ǻrhus, Funen Village, Hjerl Hede and the Co-operative Village Nyvang.  Here, traditional houses, farms, stores and school rooms recreate the authentic environments that typified Denmark in days gone by.

Visitors can also participate in the largest Independence Day celebration held outside of the U.S. each July 4^th in Rebild Bakker, located south of Aalborg in Jutland.  The 190-acre national park was donated by Danish-Americans in 1912 as a location for thousands of people to celebrate the holiday while remembering those who left Denmark to seek a new life in America.

In addition to visiting the VisitDenmark’s new heritage web site (www.visitdenmark.com/heritage), Danish-Americans can also consult the Danish State Archives which provides a number of Internet services for searching for ancestors online.  Individuals whose ancestors emigrated to the U.S. between 1869 and 1908 can find information at the Danish Emigration Archives in Aalborg.  Another useful web site for Danish genealogy research is www.MyDanishRoots.com.

U.S. citizens of Danish descent have made outstanding contributions to the diverse fabric of American life.  Some well-known individuals include: actors Victor Borge, Viggo Mortensen, and Scarlett Johansson; model, Helena Christensen; sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who chiseled Mount Rushmore; psychologist Erik Erikson, who revolutionized developmental psychology with his theory on social development; Morten Anderson, the all-time leading scorer in NFL history; journalist Jacob Riis, also considered a pioneer in photography; and Lars Ulrich, founder of Metallica, one of the world’s most successful heavy metal bands.

Reaching the Danish homeland is convenient and affordable on Scandinavian Airlines, SAS, with non-stop service from the gateway cities of New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. (www.flysas.com). Denmark has been recognized as the happiest country in the world in a survey conducted by England’s University of Leicester.  Copenhagen and its happy citizens are extending a warmer welcome than ever to their Danish-American cousins at a time when we all can use more good cheer! 

In addition to the Danish heritage information available on www.visitdenmark.com/heritage, comprehensive visitor travel information is available at www.visitdenmark.com and www.visitcopenhagen.com. Denmark video vignettes also are available on www.considerdenmark.com. To download free images, please see http://billeder.visitdenmark.com/

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