Solvang (; )
is a city in
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California, officially the County of Santa Barbara, is located in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 448,229. The county seat is Santa Barbara, and the largest city is Santa Maria.
Santa Barba ...
. It is located in the
Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 6,126 at the
2020 census, up from 5,245 at the
2010 census. Solvang was founded in 1911
and incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985.
Solvang is often dubbed "The Danish Capital of America".
Solvang's origins date back to 1804, when
Mission Santa Inés
Mission Santa Inés (sometimes spelled Santa Ynez) was a Spanish mission in the present-day city of Solvang, California, and named after St. Agnes of Rome. Founded on September 17, 1804, by Father Estévan Tapís of the Franciscan order, the ...
was founded by the Spanish under
Esteban Tápis. A small community grew up around the mission called Santa Inés during the Mexican period, but it was largely abandoned after the American
Conquest of California
The Conquest of California, also known as the Conquest of Alta California or the California Campaign, was an important military campaign of the Mexican–American War carried out by the United States in Alta California (modern-day California), t ...
. In 1911, a new settlement was founded around the mission by a group of Danish-Americans who purchased of the surrounding
Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters. The community took on its distinctive Danish-themed architecture beginning in 1947 and has since become a prominent tourist destination.
Though only about 10% of residents in the 21st century are Danish, the town attracts many tourists from the Nordic countries, and has been the subject of several Danish royal visits, most recently by
Prince Henrik
Prince Henrik of Denmark (; born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat; 11 June 1934 – 13 February 2018) was the husband of Margrethe II of Denmark. He served as her royal consort from Margrethe's accession on 14 January 1972 unt ...
in 2011.
History
Beginnings
![Mission StInes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Mission_StInes.jpg)
The
Santa Ynez Valley, in which Solvang lies, was originally inhabited by the
Chumash Chumash may refer to:
*Chumash (Judaism), a Hebrew word for the Pentateuch, used in Judaism
*Chumash people, a Native American people of southern California
*Chumashan languages, indigenous languages of California
See also
*Chumash traditional n ...
, identified by Father Pedro Font, chaplain of the 1776
Anza Expedition, as an ingenious and industrious people. They have an excellent astronomical system and are good fishermen and hunters.
["Mission History"](_blank)
''Old Mission Santa Inés''. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
As part of the expansion of the mission system established in California by Spanish missionaries, Father Estévan Tapís founded Mission Santa Inés, now located near the center of Solvang, in order to relieve overcrowding at
Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara ( es, link=no, Misión de Santa Bárbara) is a Spanish mission in Santa Barbara, California. Often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Missions,’ it was founded by Padre Fermín Lasuén for the Franciscan order on December ...
and
Mission La Purísima Concepción since it was located midway between the two. It also served as a gateway to the Chumash Indians living east of the Coast Range.
[National Park Service](_blank)
"Mission Santa Inés California". Retrieved September 16, 2014.
After the
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...
, the Mexican Assembly passed the Secularization Laws which confiscated Mission lands, along with other property, and transferred them to the control of local ranchers, with Solvang being later founded on what became known as the
Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. With secularization, Mission Santa Inés began to decline and the Chumash Indian population in the area along with it.
For a time, the mission was a
seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
but soon began to deteriorate. However, it was repaired by the Donahue family in 1884 and renovated by Fr. Alexander Buckler in 1904.
Danish immigrants
Between 1850 and 1930, a considerable number of Danes left
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
, which was suffering from poor economic prospects. According to some estimates, as many as one in ten Danes emigrated during this period, mostly to the United States. The most popular destinations for Danish settlers were
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
,
Iowa
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...
,
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
, and
South Dakota
South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large po ...
. In many of the new communities, churches and schools were set up in accordance with the ideas of
N. F. S. Grundtvig, an influential Danish philosopher, hymn-writer and
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...
pastor. In particular, the so-called
folk schools introduced a new approach to education based on a spirit of freedom, poetry and disciplined creativity. Folk schools were established in
Elk Horn, Iowa (1878–1899);
Grant, Michigan
Grant is a city in Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 952 at the 2020 census. The city is adjacent to Grant Township and Ashland Township. It is a part of the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Michigan combined s ...
(1882–1888);
Nysted, Nebraska (1887–1934);
Tyler, Minnesota
Tyler is a city in Lincoln County, Minnesota, United States. The population in was 1,143 at the 2010 census.
History
Tyler was platted in 1879. It was named for C. B. Tyler, a Minnesota land agent and newspaper editor. A post office has been in ...
(1888–1935); and
Kenmare, North Dakota
Kenmare is a city in Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 961 at the 2020 census. Kenmare is part of the Minot Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Kenmare was platted in 1897. The city most likely was named after ...
(1902–1916); and finally in Solvang (1911–1931).
One of the most enthusiastic proponents of the Danish approach to religion and education was
Benedict Nordentoft
Benedict Nordentoft (17 January 1873 – 12 December 1942) was a Danish educator and cleric, principally remembered for the years he spent in Solvang, California, where he and his colleagues established a Danish community with a Lutheran church a ...
, who was born in
Brabrand
Brabrand () is a postal district of Aarhus Municipality, Denmark. South of Brabrand, in the Aarhus river-valley, is the largest recreational area of Aarhus Municipality, comprising the Brabrand Lake and the meadow-lake of Årslev, with surroundi ...
near
Aarhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately northwe ...
in 1873. After graduating in theology in 1898, he was soon tempted to travel to the United States, where he began coordinating relations between Danish Lutheran churches in Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine. In 1901, he returned to Denmark specifically to be ordained in
Aarhus Cathedral
Aarhus Cathedral ( da, Århus Domkirke) is a cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the longest and tallest church in the country, at in length and in height.
The construction of Aarhus Cathedral began in the 12th century and it is the main edific ...
. Back in America, he continued his work as a lecturer at
Grand View College
Grand View University is a Private university, private liberal arts university in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1896 and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the university enrolls approximately 2,000 students and is acc ...
, a folk high school in
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moine ...
, which was also set up by the Danish Lutheran Church. He was appointed president in 1903, a post which he held until 1910, when disagreements with his Grundtvigian colleagues forced him to resign.
[Rolf Buschardt Christensen, "Benedict Nordentoft".](_blank)
Retrieved July 12, 2010.
From 1906, Nordentoft, together with Jens M. Gregersen, a pastor from
Kimballton, Iowa
Kimballton is a city in Audubon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 291 at the time of the 2020 census.
History
Kimballton was founded in 1883 when Hans Jensen Jorgensen opened a post office at the site. The town was officially esta ...
, and Peder P. Hornsyld, a lecturer at Grand View, had discussed the possibility of creating a new Danish colony with a dedicated Lutheran church and school on the west coast. In 1910, together with other Danish-Americans, they created the Danish-American Colony Company in San Francisco. Later that year, suitable land was found in the Santa Ynez Valley northwest of Santa Barbara. On January 23, 1911, the contract was signed and Solvang was founded. The Danes had bought almost of the
Rancho San Carlos de Jonata land grant, paying an average of $40 per acre.
[Pat Murph]
"Remember When?"
''Santa Ynez Valley Guest Magazine'' , Spring 2004. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
Among the other early arrivals with Mads Frese were Mr. and Mrs. Sophus Olsen, Hans Skytt, John Petersen and John Ahrenkild. Skytt was to play an important role as the carpenter, who constructed many of Solvang's early buildings. The first to be constructed was a hotel close to the Mission where new arrivals could be housed. Gregersen became president of the Danish-American Colony Company, and Nordentoft was named head and Hornsyld a teacher at the school, which opened on November 15, 1911, with 21 students.
Expansion
![Tivoli Square Solvang](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Tivoli_Square_Solvang.jpg)
At the end of 1912, when it became almost impossible to sell any more plots of land, the company's income was vastly reduced. The shareholders persuaded Gregersen to give up his position as Solvang's pastor and travel to Iowa and Nebraska to convince Danish immigrants to buy land in the new colony. He enjoyed considerable success, relieving the colony of any further threats. After Gregersen's departure, Nordentoft became the pastor. Before long, Solvang also had a store, a bank, a lumber yard, a barbershop and a post office with Hornsyld as postmaster. Where there had just been fields, there was now a small town.
Folk high school
Nordentoft was not content with the little folk school in Solvang. When he was unable to convince Gregersen and Hornsyld that a larger educational institution was needed, he bought them out and started to raise funds for a bigger and better school. The following year, in August 1914, a ''rejsegilde'' or
topping-out ceremony was held for the impressive new building, which Nordentoft called Atterdag College in memory of
Valdemar Atterdag
Valdemar IV Atterdag (the epithet meaning "Return of the Day"), or Waldemar (132024 October 1375) was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance w ...
, who did much to consolidate the kingdom of Denmark in the 14th century. What surprised many of those who came to the celebration was the great similarity the building had with Grand View College. Standing on a hilltop above the village, the new college or
folk high school
Folk high schools (also ''Adult Education Center'', Danish: ''Folkehøjskole;'' Dutch: ''Volkshogeschool;'' Finnish: ''kansanopisto'' and ''työväenopisto'' or ''kansalaisopisto;'' German: ''Volkshochschule'' and (a few) ''Heimvolkshochschule; ...
was designed to teach Danish-speaking students in their late teens how to lead more meaningful lives with an emphasis on lectures, singing, gymnastics,
folk dancing and fellowship. A difficult period followed, as
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
put a stop to Danish emigration to America, leading to a reduction in the number of young people requiring a school education. It also became difficult to maintain a Danish-speaking school at a time when American nationalism was steadily growing. Nordentoft, who felt he had achieved his ambitions in America, sold the college to the congregation of the Solvang Lutheran church in 1921 for $5,000 and returned to Denmark with his wife and family.
Atterdag College continued to be used as a folk school, a community meeting hall, a performing arts venue, a gymnastics center, a summer school, and a boarding house until it was finally demolished in 1970, making way for the Solvang Lutheran Home.
Danish church
![Solvang Bethania Lutheran Church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Solvang_Bethania_Lutheran_Church.JPG)
The Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church was initiated by the Danish pioneers in 1912. For a number of years, church services were held in the school building until, in 1928, a new church was built by Hans Skytt and his colleagues. Solidly constructed in ferro-concrete with walls a foot thick, it was based on a photograph of a Gothic-styled Danish church and resembles one of the hundreds of rural churches in Denmark which were built or restyled in the 14th century. Its interior contains hand-carved woodwork on the altar, pulpit and altar rail. Services used to be mainly in Danish but apart from a Christmas service in Danish on ''lillejuleaften'' (December 23) each year, all the other services are in English.
Danish-styled architecture
![Solvang mill](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Solvang_mill.jpg)
Initially, most of Solvang's buildings were built in the same style as others in the area.
The Lutheran church was the first to be based on Danish architecture and bears a close relationship to Danish equivalents. But after World War II, interest grew in the concept of a "Danish Village". The pioneer of the Danish Provincial style was Ferdinand Sorensen, originally from Nebraska. In the mid-1940s, after returning to Solvang from a trip to Denmark, he first completed Møllebakken, his Danish-styled home, and then went on to build the first of the village's four windmills. A little later,
Earl Petersen, a local architect, gave the older buildings a new look, adding façades in so-called "Danish Provincial" style. Buildings in the half-timbered style of Danish rural houses proliferated, creating a new tourist attraction.
While much was done to create an "authentic" Danish atmosphere in the town center, it has been pointed out by Scandinavians that fake thatched roofs and artificial timbering are largely a result of local interests in general rather than those of the Danish immigrants themselves. The older buildings have simply been restyled to look Danish even if there was nothing Danish about them originally.
Subsequent development
During the 1920s, the proportion of non-Danish residents rose substantially and local businesses and churches began providing services in English, in addition to traditional Danish.
In the 1930s, Solvang became the largest town in the Santa Ynez Valley and a commercial hub for the local region.
By the late 1940s, Solvang's growth stagnated as the town's economic activity focused predominately on agriculture, prompting younger residents to leave in search of more diverse job opportunities.
In 1947, the town was featured in an article in ''
The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...
'' entitled "Little Denmark", which praised Solvang's quaint rural charms and sparked a tourism boom prompting residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco to take weekend trips to Solvang. Solvang subsequently developed a tourism industry focused on emphasizing the town's Danish heritage.
The 2004 film ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...
'', brought attention to the vineyards in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley and tasting rooms have opened. Restaurants are also part of the revitalization of Solvang as it becomes a destination for locally sourced fare.
Geography
Solvang is located at .
At an elevation of 505 ft (154 m), it lies in the
Santa Ynez Valley some north-west of
Santa Barbara and about north of the Pacific coast. According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the city has a total area of , 99.95% of it land and 0.05% of it water.
Climate
Solvang enjoys sunshine throughout the year with clear, warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures vary between 52 and 72 °F (11 and 22 °C) with highs reaching the lower 90s °F (lower 30s °C) and winter lows in the upper 30s °F (below 5 °C). Furthermore, Solvang experiences large
diurnal temperature variations
In meteorology, diurnal temperature variation is the variation between a high air temperature and a low temperature that occurs during the same day.
Temperature lag
Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation: peak da ...
, especially in the summer, when daily temperatures vary on average by almost 40 °F (20 °C). Average annual rainfall for Solvang (recorded between 1964 and 2010) is 19.31 inches (49 cm).
Solvang is north of
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
.
Demographics
2010
The
2010 United States Census
The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...
reported that Solvang had a population of 5,245. The population density was . The racial makeup of Solvang was 4,326 (82.5%)
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 38 (0.7%)
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 59 (1.1%)
Native American, 72 (1.4%)
Asian, 1 (0.0%)
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 611 (11.6%) from
other races, and 138 (2.6%) from two or more races. There were 1,530
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino residents, of any race (29.2%).
The Census reported that 5,190 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 3 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 52 (1.0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,173 households, out of which 611 (28.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,081 (49.7%) were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 183 (8.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 121 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (5.5%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (0.8%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. 636 households (29.3%) were made up of individuals, and 303 (13.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 1,385
families (63.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out, with 1,094 people (20.9%) under the age of 18, 384 people (7.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,142 people (21.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,530 people (29.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,095 people (20.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
There were 2,485 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,257 (57.8%) were owner-occupied, and 916 (42.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%. 2,872 people (54.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,318 people (44.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 5,332 people, 2,185 households, and 1,415 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,288 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.24%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.43%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.66%
Native American, 1.05%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 5.51% from
other races, and 4.07% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino residents of any race were 19.86% of the population.
There were 2,185 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median
income
Income is the consumption and saving opportunity gained by an entity within a specified timeframe, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. Income is difficult to define conceptually and the definition may be different across fields. Fo ...
for a household in the city was $45,799, and the median income for a family was $57,703. Males had a median income of $41,429 versus $30,175 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $25,363. About 2.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to Solvang's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:
Tourism
![Solvang Hønen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Solvang_H%C3%B8nen.jpg)
Solvang is a tourist attraction with over one million visitors per year. Tourists were initially attracted to Solvang by the visit of Denmark's
Prince Frederik in 1939.
But it was in 1947, following a feature article in ''
The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...
'', that they began to flock to the town. Sights include the Danish windmills, the statues of Hans Christian Andersen and ''The Little Mermaid'' replica, the half-timbered houses, the Danish rural church, the
Round Tower
A fortified tower (also defensive tower or castle tower or, in context, just tower) is one of the defensive structures used in fortifications, such as castles, along with curtain walls. Castle towers can have a variety of different shapes and fu ...
as well as Danish music and folk dancing. Several restaurants and pastry shops serve Danish specialities.
A replica of a 19th-century Danish streetcar, the horse-drawn ''Hønen'' ("the hen"), takes visitors on sightseeing tours around downtown Solvang. Partly as a result of the 2004 film ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...
'', which was set in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley, the number of wine-related businesses in Solvang has increased, attracting
oenophiles to the downtown area.
Danish Days
![Solvang Danish costumes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Solvang_Danish_costumes.jpg)
Since 1936, Solvang has celebrated Danish folk traditions at its annual "Danish Days" event, usually held during the third weekend in September. Led by a "Danish Maid," the program consists of ''
æbleskiver
''Æbleskiver'' (, ingular: ''æbleskive'' are Danish snacks that are spherical in shape. The name literally means "apple slices" in Danish, although apples are not usually an ingredient in present-day versions. The crust is similar in texture to ...
'' eating competitions, music, dancing, and processions through the downtown area with floats, marching groups, marching bands, folk dancers and singers. A Danish Days breakfast on Sunday morning features ''
medisterpølser'', a spiced pork sausage recipe of Danish origins, and ''
æbleskiver
''Æbleskiver'' (, ingular: ''æbleskive'' are Danish snacks that are spherical in shape. The name literally means "apple slices" in Danish, although apples are not usually an ingredient in present-day versions. The crust is similar in texture to ...
''.
Festival Theater
One of Solvang's attractions is the 700-seat open-air Festival Theater, which was built in 1974 following the success of a makeshift performance of ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
'' in 1971 in the town park. Strong support from the local business community, Donovan Marley (director of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts), and Earl Petersen (a local architect), allowed the structure to be completed in record time. Recent productions have included ''
West Side Story
''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents.
Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...
'' and ''
Les Misérables
''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...
''. The style of the exterior is reminiscent of both Danish and Elizabethan architecture.
Royal visits
On April 7, 1939, Danish
Crown Prince Frederik
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, (Frederik André Henrik Christian; born 26 May 1968) is the heir apparent to the Danish throne. He is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, Prince Henri ...
and
Princess Ingrid visited Solvang; at the time, a large number of the town's 400 residents were Danish immigrants. They drove through the grounds of Atterdag College and attended a Good Friday service at Bethania Church. The crown prince spoke of their reception favorably: "To find out traditions in our fatherland in new surroundings makes them only more beloved to us. We have been bathed in sunlight ever since we began this memorable day and now we have driven into a bit of Denmark tucked into this beautiful California."
["Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid in California"](_blank)
''Royal Musings''. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
On June 5, 1960,
Princess Margrethe of Denmark
Princess Margaret of Denmark (Margrethe Françoise Louise Marie Helene; 17 September 1895 – 18 September 1992) was a Danish princess by birth and a princess of Bourbon-Parma as the wife of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma. She was the youngest g ...
paid a visit which included a reception at Palacio del Rio, lunch at Bethania Church and a tour of downtown Solvang. She returned on May 23, 1976, as Queen of Denmark together with her husband,
Prince Henrik
Prince Henrik of Denmark (; born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat; 11 June 1934 – 13 February 2018) was the husband of Margrethe II of Denmark. He served as her royal consort from Margrethe's accession on 14 January 1972 unt ...
. After a formal luncheon in the Parish Hall, the couple visited Bethania Church and the Solvang Lutheran Home before greeting residents on Copenhagen Drive. Shortly after her visit, the queen awarded Solvang developer Ferdinand Sorensen the
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known a ...
for strengthening ties between the United States and Denmark.
100th anniversary
Solvang celebrated its centennial in 2011. The first event in this connection was a visit by the
Danish ambassador to the United States
The Danish ambassador in Washington, D. C. is the official representative of the Government in Copenhagen to the Government of the United States.
History
The Danish Legation was raised to Embassy status on February 6, 1947 during the leaders ...
, Friis Arne Petersen, on July 11, 2010. Mr Petersen took a walking tour of downtown Solvang and visited the Mission. The mayor, Jim Richardson, greeted the ambassador with a private reception at the
Elverhøj Museum. "I wanted him to see the people of our town, and the Danish community in particular," he explained.
The program for the centennial year started with the official launch on January 7, 2011. Centennial plans also included Christmas and New Year celebrations, including the proposed Julefest Parade on Saturday, December 3, 2011. Among the highlights were the
Tour of California
The Tour of California (officially sponsored as the Amgen Tour of California) was an annual professional road cycling stage race on the UCI World Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour that ran from 2006 to 2019. It was the only event on the ...
Time Trial on Friday, May 20 and the visit of the Aalborg Police Band for Danish Days during the weekend of September 16 to 18.
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
Prince Henrik of Denmark (; born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat; 11 June 1934 – 13 February 2018) was the husband of Margrethe II of Denmark. He served as her royal consort from Margrethe's accession on 14 January 1972 unt ...
, visited Solvang on June 11 which also happened to be his own 77th birthday. He was accompanied by the Danish ambassador,
Peter Taksøe-Jensen, and Torsten Jansen, the cultural counselor at the Danish Embassy in Washington. The prince helped dedicate Solvang's Centennial Plaza, unveiling two bricks bearing the Danish royal monogram. He spoke of a relationship between the United States and Denmark "based on respect and common values and ideals" which was forged by individuals "who have made a new home without forgetting the old nation of their ancestors."
Nearby attractions
* The Chumash Casino Resort is located some to the east of Solvang in the
Santa Ynez Indian Reservation near
Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez (; Spanish for "St. Agnes") is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, California.
The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities of the Santa Ynez Valley. It features the Santa Ynez Airport ...
. Opened in its present form in August 2003, the casino consists of a 94,000-square-feet (8,730 m
2) gaming area with slot machines and table games. A 106-room hotel and spa opened in July 2004. In 2006, the Casino estimated that there were 2,894,561 visitors to the Casino and 34,049 guests in the hotel, nearly all of them from Southern California. The
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Chumash, an indigenous people of California, in Santa Barbara.Pritzker 122 Their name for themselves is Samala. The locality of Santa Ynez is referred to as '' ...
have stated that the casino brings in some 6,000 patrons per day.
*
Neverland Ranch
Sycamore Valley Ranch, formerly Neverland Ranch["Neverland Never More"](_blank)
, by William Etling (author ...
,
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's former home, lies to the north.
*
Nojoqui Falls
Nojoqui Falls is a seasonal waterfall in the Santa Barbara County, California park of the same name.
Description
Nojoqui has been described as “one of the most graceful waterfalls in California” and “the highlight of the scenic drive alo ...
are located in a county park of that name about southwest of the city, on Alisal Road.
Bicycling
Solvang is a popular destination for bicyclists, and has been featured as a race location on the
Tour of California
The Tour of California (officially sponsored as the Amgen Tour of California) was an annual professional road cycling stage race on the UCI World Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour that ran from 2006 to 2019. It was the only event on the ...
. The surrounding countryside and variable terrain provide a variety of conditions useful for training. Two annual amateur bicycling events are held in Solvang: the Solvang Century (held in March) and the Solvang Prelude (held in November).
Museums
*The Elverhøj Museum, housed in the former residence of artist Viggo Brandt-Erichsen, is devoted to preserving the Danish heritage of Solvang with its Danish-American pioneer spirit. The building which was completed in 1950 is inspired by the 18th-century farmhouses of northern
Jutland
Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...
. After extensive renovation, the museum opened to the public in May 1988. The cottage in the garden houses a
diorama
A diorama is a replica of a scene, typically a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum. Dioramas are often built by hobbyists as part of related hobbies such as military vehicle mode ...
of scale models depicting Solvang in the 1920s. From January to April 2011, the museum was hosting an exhibition entitled "Spirit of Solvang" consisting of a series of old black-and-white photographs of the village enhanced by local resident Paul Roark.
*The
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales.
Andersen's fairy tales, consisti ...
Museum, located above The Book Loft, is devoted to presenting the author's life and works. Displays include models of Andersen's
childhood home
''Childhood Home'' is the twelfth studio album by American musician Ben Harper, released on May 6, 2014, under Prestige Records, Prestige Folklore. It is a collaboration with his mother, Ellen Harper.
Reception
The album debuted at No. 43 on '' ...
and of "
The Princess and the Pea
"The Princess and the Pea" ( da, "Prinsessen paa Ærten"; direct translation: "The Princess on the Pea") is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal ancestry is established by a test of her sensitivity. ...
". The museum also contains hundreds of volumes of Andersen's works, including many illustrated first editions.
*The
Vintage Motorcycle Museum displays machines from the private collection of Virgil Elings, a veteran motorcross and road racer. While there is an emphasis on vintage racing bikes, the collection is quite broad and ranges from 1910 to the present.
Transportation
State Route 246 runs through Solvang as
Mission Drive, connecting
Buellton and
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 (US 101), is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. It is also known as (The Royal Roa ...
to the west, and
Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez (; Spanish for "St. Agnes") is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, California.
The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities of the Santa Ynez Valley. It features the Santa Ynez Airport ...
and
Highway 154 to the east.
Although most of Solvang's visitors arrive by car, there are three bus connections per day for those arriving at
Santa Barbara by rail. Th
Santa Ynez Valleybus service connects Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos. The Clean Air Express now connects Solvang and Buellton to Goleta and Santa Barbara.
The nearby
Santa Ynez Airport caters to
general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...
.
Public safety
The
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...
has a sub station in Solvang, while the Solvang Volunteer Fire Department was disbanded in April 2007 and replaced with a contract from the
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, California, and for multiple cities within the county. Together, these areas compose ...
.
In popular culture
Film
*Solvang was one of the two locations featured in the
William Castle
William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.
Orphaned at 11, Castle dropped out of high school at 15 to work in the theater. He came to the attenti ...
film, ''
Homicidal
''Homicidal'' is a 1961 American horror-thriller film produced and directed by William Castle
William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor.
Orph ...
'' (1961). The location used for the drugstore and flowershop still stands today and remains relatively unchanged.
*Parts of the horror film ''
The Unseen'' (1980) were filmed in Solvang along or near Mission Drive, with particular use made of the Bit O' Denmark Restaurant and the Solvang Gardens Lodge, which was known as the Solvang Gaard Lodge at the time of filming.
*Much of the Oscar-winning film ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...
'' (2004) was filmed in Solvang and in nearby
Buellton.
*Much of the
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
film ''
Paddleton
''Paddleton'' is a 2019 American comedy-drama film, directed by Alex Lehmann, from a script by Lehmann and Mark Duplass. The film stars Duplass and Ray Romano.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2019 ...
'' (2019) takes place in Solvang.
*The Lifetime film ''A Very Charming Christmas Town'' (2020) takes place almost entirely in Solvang.
Literature
*In the
Dean Koontz
Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945) is an American author. His novels are billed as Thriller (genre), suspense thrillers, but frequently incorporate elements of horror fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction, Mystery fiction, mystery, and satir ...
novel ''
Watchers'' (1987), the main characters Travis and Nora go on a date in the town's Danish Village.
* In Faye Kellerman's detective mystery novel ''Street Dreams'', the protagonists Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus travel to Solvang to meet an old woman living there, hear her reminiscences and try to solve a 75-year old unsolved murder.
* The narrator of ''Sluk'', a novel by Danish-Norwegian writer
Lars Saabye Christensen
Lars Saabye Christensen (born 21 September 1953 in Oslo) is a Norwegian/Danish author.
Saabye Christensen was raised in the Skillebekk neighbourhood of Oslo, but lived for many years in Sortland in northern Norway; both places play a major r ...
, spends time in Solvang.
Sports
*The
Tour of California
The Tour of California (officially sponsored as the Amgen Tour of California) was an annual professional road cycling stage race on the UCI World Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour that ran from 2006 to 2019. It was the only event on the ...
cycle race has had
time trial In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team sets off at ...
stages in Solvang on four occasions;
2007,
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
,
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
and
2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
.
Television
*In "Rumspringa" season 6, ep 17 of ''
New Girl
''New Girl'' is an American television sitcom created by Elizabeth Meriwether and produced by 20th Television for Fox that originally aired from September 20, 2011, to May 15, 2018. The series revolves around a kooky teacher, Jessica Day ( Zoo ...
'', Jessica, Nick and Schmidt go to Solvang and experience the local delights.
Full video: Solvang is the featured city in the hour-long 2002 Episode #113 of Road Trip With Huell Howser''
*In ''
American Dad!
''American Dad!'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Since 2014, the series has been airing new episodes on TBS. ''American Dad!'' is the first television ...
'' Vol. 4 Ep. 2, Roger refers to buying chocolate in Solvang.
*The town of Solvang was featured on Bravo's hit television show, ''
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'', on its third season.
*Part of the plot of
a season 1 episode of the
Disney Channel
Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...
original series
Original programming (also called originals or original programs, and subcategorized as "original series", "original movies", "original documentaries" and "original specials") is a term used for in-house television, film or web series productions ...
''
A.N.T. Farm
''A.N.T. Farm'' is an American teen sitcom which originally aired on Disney Channel from May 6, 2011 to March 21, 2014. It first aired on May 6, 2011, as a special one-episode preview and continued as a regular series starting on June 17, 201 ...
'',
"America Needs TalANT", features the main characters becoming stranded in Solvang; its original airdate was November 25, 2011.
*In an episode of ''
Pinky and the Brain
''Pinky and the Brain'' is an American animated television series that was created by Tom Ruegger that premiered on Kids' WB on September 9, 1995. It was the first animated television series to be presented in Dolby Surround and the fourth col ...
'', Brain forms a basketball team that has a practice session in Solvang.
*In season 3 episode "Christmas Joy" of the TV show ''
Psych
''Psych'' is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks for USA Network. The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observ ...
'' Solvang's Danish Village is featured as the scene of the crime, portrayed as Solvang Santa's Village.
*An episode of the
Travel Channel
Travel Channel (stylized as Trvl Channel since 2018) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which had previously owned the channel from 1997 to 2007. The channel is headquartered in New York, New York, United S ...
show ''
Stranded with Cash Peters
''Stranded with Cash Peters'' is a reality show/ documentary on the Travel Channel created by British travel writer Cash Peters, in which he was dumped in an unfamiliar place with no money, food, or room for the night. He had to rely on the locals ...
'' featured Solvang.
* Solvang was mentioned in Season 2, Episode 4 of ''
The Blacklist
''The Blacklist'' is an American crime thriller television series that premiered on NBC on September 23, 2013. The show follows Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader), a former U.S. Navy officer turned high-profile criminal who voluntarily s ...
''. When sarcastically asked by FBI agent Elizabeth Keen if he has spirited a witness away to "Saint Kitts or Solvang,"
James Spader's character Raymond Reddington responds, "Solvang? I never send anyone I care about to Solvang."
*In season 5 episode "Happy Birthday, Anastasia", ''
The Girls Next Door
''The Girls Next Door'' (also known as ''The Girls of the Playboy Mansion'') is a reality television series which focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy Mansion. The series was created by executive pr ...
'' and their guests take a road trip which includes a visit to Solvang; its original airdate was January 4, 2009.
*In ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...
'' episode "
Little Orphan Millie
"Little Orphan Millie" is the sixth episode of the nineteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 11, 2007. This episode represents a milestone in ...
", it was revealed that
Milhouse
Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a recurring character in the Fox animated television series ''The Simpsons'' voiced by Pamela Hayden and created by Matt Groening. Milhouse is Bart Simpson's best friend in Mrs. Krabappel's fourth grade class ...
has an uncle from Solvang named Norbert "Zack" Van Houten. Bart has a telephone conversation with a switchboard operator in Solvang, and a wooden "Solvang Air" airliner, whose fuselage resembles buildings in the town, is shown landing at Springfield Airport. Uncle Zack's overwhelming pride in his Danish heritage also reflects Solvang's history from its founding by Danish citizens.
*In ''
The Rockford Files
''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...
'' episode "The Queen of Peru" (season 4, episode 12), Rockford pursues a family in an RV on their way to Solvang.
*In ''
Modern Family
''Modern Family'' is an American family sitcom television series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan for the American Broadcasting Company. It ran for 11 seasons, from September 23, 2009, to April 8, 2020. It follows the lives of thr ...
'' episode "Do it yourself" (season 8, episode 13), Jay tells Phil that he once took his dog Stella to a "farm-to-table" dog-bakery in Solvang.
*In ''
Star Trek: Lower Decks'' season 1 episode 10, a ''California''-class ship named U.S.S. ''Solvang'' is present.
*Solvang is the setting of the 2020
Lifetime movie ''A Very Charming Christmas Town,'' with the film shot entirely in the actual town.
Notable people
*
Kenny Baker, singer and actor, resided and died in Solvang.
*
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis Gionfriddo (March 8, 1922 – March 14, 2003) was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder.
Career
Gionfriddo made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with ...
, outfielder and hero for the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
in the
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees won the Series in seven games for their 11th World Series championship in team history. Yankees manager Bucky Harris won the Series for the first time ...
, resided and died in Solvang.
*
Patricia Hitchcock
Patricia Alma Hitchcock O'Connell (7 July 1928 – 9 August 2021) was an English-American actress and producer, acting under the name Pat Hitchcock. She was the only child of English director Alfred Hitchcock and film editor Alma Reville, and ...
, actress and only child of film director
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
, resided in Solvang.
*Ska-punk band
Mad Caddies
The Mad Caddies (or the Caddies) are a ska punk band from Solvang, California, United States. The band formed in 1995 and has released seven full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs. To date, Mad Caddies have sold over 500,000 albums wo ...
calls Solvang its home.
*Beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist
Todd Rogers
Todd Jonathan Rogers (born September 30, 1973) is an American professional beach volleyball player who is an Olympic and FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship gold medalist. He and his former partner, Phil Dalhausser, were the 2007, 2008, 200 ...
lives in Solvang with his family.
*Professional cyclist Alison Tetrick was born in Solvang.
*Stephanie Zimbalist lives part-time in the valley where she has a house inherited from her late father Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
*Serial killer Thor Nis Christiansen lived in Solvang until his late teens.
Sister city
*, Aalborg, since 1971.
Photo gallery
File:Solvang Andersen.jpg, Hans Christian Andersen statue
File:Solvang timbered houses.jpg, Half-timbered houses in the Petersen Village Inn courtyard
File:Solvang Danish Days.JPG, Danish Days Viking float
File:Solvang mill and tower.jpg, Round Tower and adjacent windmill
File:Solvang with flag.jpg, Danish architecture in Solvang. The Petersen Village Inn
File:Solvang Danish houses.jpg, Danish houses
File:Solvang Round Tower.JPG, Solvang's Round Tower
File:Solvang stork and windmill.JPG, Stork on a rooftop and Danish windmill
File:Solvang Danish Mill Bakery.jpg, A Danish bakery in Solvang
File:Denmark - windmill far.jpg, The Hamlet Square windmill
File:Solvang Village Folk Dancers.JPG, Village Folk Dancers
File:Solvang H.C. Andersen Hus.JPG, Copy of Hans Christian Andersen's childhood home
File:Solvang Elna's Dress Shop.JPG, Elna's Dress Shop
File:Solvang Hønen Streetcar.JPG, ''Hønen:'' a horse-drawn streetcar
See also
*
Benedict Nordentoft
Benedict Nordentoft (17 January 1873 – 12 December 1942) was a Danish educator and cleric, principally remembered for the years he spent in Solvang, California, where he and his colleagues established a Danish community with a Lutheran church a ...
, the co-founder of Solvang
*Danish Americans
*Kingsburg, California, Kingsburg, a "Swedish village" in Fresno County, California
* Helen, Georgia
*Leavenworth, Washington, a Bavarian theme town developed with assistance from Solvang.
"Leavenworth — Thumbnail History"
HistoryLink.org. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
* Frankenmuth, Michigan
* Little Portugal, San Jose
References
Further reading
* ''Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church, Our First 75 Years 1912–1987'', Solvang, 1987.
* William Etling, ''Sideways in Neverland: Life in the Santa Ynez Valley, California'', iUniverse, Inc., 2005, 328 pages.
* Joanne Rife, ''Solvang. Denmark in the USA'', The Book Loft, Solvang, 1975.
External links
Official website
Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau
Solvang, CA
{{authority control
Solvang, California,
1911 establishments in California
1985 establishments in California
Cities in Santa Barbara County, California
Danish-American culture in California
Danish emigrants to the United States
History of Santa Barbara County, California
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1911
Populated places established in 1985
Tourist attractions in Santa Barbara County, California