"Eric has been the captain of our ship for 16 years, and he has guided us through a remarkable transformation into an institution that is both a regional treasure and a museum of national and international significance.”
- Hans Aarhaus
Spotlights
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Leave your well wishes for Eric!
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How the National Nordic Museum has changed in the last 16 years
In 2008, Eric took the reins of the Nordic Heritage Museum, then a cherished institution nestled within a historic schoolhouse in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. With an initial operating budget of $766K, Eric embarked on a monumental mission. His dedication propelled this small yet mighty Museum into the global spotlight, boasting a robust budget of $5.3M and significant recognition through an act of Congress as the National Nordic Museum.
Under Eric’s astute leadership, the Museum soared to new heights, unveiling an iconic $53 million purpose built facility in the heart of the Ballard working waterfront. Despite facing the challenges of a global pandemic, the Museum emerged stronger, establishing itself as a beacon of international collaboration through initiatives like the Nordic Innovation Summit and as a producer of celebrated programming, like the Sámi Film Festival. Additionally, Eric’s tenure has seen a surge in membership and Museum visits, alongside an endowment that has grown to over $9 million.
Spotlights
“Eric’s contribution to the greater Nordic community in Seattle is immeasurable. His vision and leadership have resulted in a world-class museum located in our community.”
- Viggo Forde, Honorary Consul of Norway to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho
“It has been an honor to lead the organization through a significant transformation. It’s important for communities to celebrate their heritage. The Nordic story is part of a multicultural reality that we face here in the U.S. The country we live in can benefit from opportunities to learn more from people who might be a little different than us.”
- Eric Nelson
Spotlights
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This year, Eric Nelson received the Allan Osberg Award for Distinguished Service at the Museum's annual Northern Lights Auktion.
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Eric Nelson's Honors
On July 18, at a special dinner honoring Eric's retirement, Honorary Danish Consul Mark Schleck announced that King Frederik X of Denmark has conferred the Order of Dannebrog to Eric.
He has also received the following knighthoods:
- Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland conferred by President Sauli Niinistö of Finland
- Knight First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star conferred by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
- Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit conferred by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway
- Knights Cross, Order of the Falcon conferred by President Guðni Johannesson of Iceland
In addition to the Knighthoods, Eric has also been honored with the rarely awarded Hazelius Medal in Gold by Sweden’s Nordiska Museet, the only non-Swedish citizen to receive the recognition. He was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 2022 and he was awarded Swedish American of the Year/Årets Svensk Amerikan by the Vasa Order of America in Sweden, in recognition of his work establishing the National Nordic Museum.
