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Welcoming the Restauration to the US

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, along with a couple of thousand attendees, welcomed the sloop Restauration to New York, exactly 200 years after the vessel carrying Norwegian emigrants arrived in the United States. In 1825, they crossed the Atlantic in search of a new and better life. This voyage is regarded as the beginning of organised emigration from Norway.

October 10, 2025

A large crowd of Norwegian-Americans, visiting Norwegians, and other spectators gathered at Pier 16 by the Hudson River. They were entertained by choirs and music, and served waffles by the Norwegian Church Abroad. Along with The Crown Prince, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Trade, and local authorities from New York, the ship and its crew were welcomed with cheers and applause.

Restauration arriving in New York. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
Crown Prince Haakon greets Restauration, alongside Aissata Camara – Commissioner for International Relations in New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Tora Aasland, Chair of the Crossings200 Steering Committee, and Minister of Trade Cecilie Myrseth. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

The emigrant ship was built by Ryfylke Trebåtbyggjeri in Judaberg and was launched in 2010. Since 2024, the ship has been owned and operated by the Restauration Friends Association, whose goal is to spread knowledge about emigration from Norway to North America, as well as coastal culture and practical seamanship. The association has 110 members, and Ann Irene Sem-Henriksen is the chairperson.

The voyage of Restauration began on July 4, 2025, from Stavanger, with both The King, The Queen and The Crown Prince family present, alongside thousands of others, to wish the ship and its crew good luck on their journey. After 98 days at sea, they arrived in New York, having spent as many days at sea as the original ship did.

A couple of thousand attendees participated in the ceremony at Pier 16 in New York. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

It was Marthe and Lars Larsen Geilane who led the group across the sea, and along the way, their daughter was born. Thus, 52 people left Norway, and 53 arrived in America. It was considered a miracle that everyone survived.

Restauration arriving in New York. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

Between 1825 and 1925, over 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to the United States, driven by hopes for freedom, work, and a better life. The emigration has created strong and lasting bonds between the United States and Norway, and today, more than 4.5 million people of Norwegian descent live in the United States.

Read the Crown Prince's speech at the welcome ceremony
Read the Crown Prince's speech at the business conference
Crown Prince Haakon welcomes the sloop Restauration to New York, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Aissata Camara – Commissioner for International Relations in New York, Minister of Trade Cecilie Myrseth, and a couple of thousand attendees. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
Astrid S performed at Pier 16. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
A day of celebration at Pier 16 in New York marking the 200 years of emigration. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
Crown Prince Haakon visits a store with the Norwegian cheese Jarlsberg. The United States is TINE’s largest international market. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
New York was the final stop on the visit to the United States marking the 200th anniversary of the start of organised emigration from Norway to the US. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

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