Happy 4th of July! Here's an incredible tidbit from our Collections vault, an immigrant's experience on starting their new life in America on the 4th of July:
“The ship we went on was the Stavangerfjord. The first time we arrived in New York Harbor was on the 4th of July in the evening. As soon as the anchor dropped in the evening, the ship was waiting its turn to go into the dock, and fireworks went up in the air. … I looked at dad and said, ‘Are we at war again?’ Dad said, ‘No, we’re in a different country now, and America is celebrating their 17th of May, so to speak. The 4th of July is their celebration.’ I got the idea that okay, they’re happy. It’s a happy event. That’s how it all began in a new country.” –Harold Sundnes, who emigrated with his parents from Norway to America in 1946.
*Image is a detail from 1950s postcard of Stavangerfjord donated to the Museum.
