We will repeat the voyage again in 2025
Sailing from Stavanger in Norway to New York.
To honor those who left in 1825 in the hope of a better life.
To give their descendants something to be proud of.
To offer an opportunity to reflect on those who are refugees today.
History must not be forgotten, and is highly relevant in light of the current situation in the world.
On July 4, 2025, the emigrant ship Restauration sets sail for New York, 200 years after the first Norwegian emigration in recent times.
This reminds us of an important part of Norwegian history and our earlier struggle for better living conditions.
Photo at the top: Frode Skarstein.
Goals:
- To follow the original route and experiences of those who sailed in 1825.
- To support the charity, Broken Dreams – A Light Of Hope
- To elevate the stories from the 1825 voyage into our interpretation as we approach 2025
- To highlight new perspectives and socially relevant issues in 2025
The national objectives in North America for the bicentennial commemoration:
- To celebrate the strong ties between Norway, the United States, and Canada
- To remember what it means to take great risks and trade one home for another
- To better understand the migration of peoples that continues worldwide today
The national objectives in Norway for emigrant commemorations in 2025:
- To raise awareness of emigration from Norway and shed new light on the history of Norwegian emigration
- To discuss today’s emigration and immigration in light of our own history
- Build closer ties between today’s Norwegians abroad and Norway
Sailing in 2025:
On July 4, 2025, RESTAURATION will begin her adventurous voyage towards New York, or America as they said in 1825, when 52 excited people started their 98-day journey towards a new and unknown future, arriving in New York City on October 9th.
More info about the voyage and timeline.
The crossing will be the largest event of the bicentennial commemoration of Norwegian emigration to America.
You can join in, get involved and participate as you wish in many ways, both large and small.
Illustration: Jens Flesjå
Inside the “American Chest” on board
Through the contents of an “American Chest”, several stories from the voyage in 1825 will be brought to light – recreated and conveyed from a 2025 perspective:
- Freedom of expression and “Walk of Pain”
- Quaker candle
- A baby blanket
- Copper stone from the Visnes mines on Karmøy in Norway, which was used in the construction of the Statue of Liberty in New York
- An accompanying art exhibition
- Reenactment of the story “Moonshine and Potatoes”
- A letter from America: Thanks for Life, Mary Clay – Cancer Association (BRCA gene)
More information about the contents of the “American Chest”.
Liv Ullmann Ambassador for the voyage
Liv Ullmann has accepted the role of Ambassador for the Restauration memorial voyage from Stavanger to New York in 2025, marking the 200th anniversary of the start of the great emigration from Norway to North America in recent times.
Upon arrival in New York on October 9, 2025, for Leif Erikson Day, Liv Ullmann plans to be present to welcome the ship.
Events and Activities 24/25:
In the run-up to departure 4. July 2025, there will be many activities under the auspices of the ship and the Restauration Friends Association.
These activities will be shared on our Facebook pages and under News and Activities on this website.
What’s happening in North America?
Contributions and donations:
Join us in making the voyage possible!
Restauration Venneforening (Friends Association) invites the American and Norwegian people to support the voyage of the emigrant ship Restauration.
She sets sail for New York on July 4, 2025 to honor the first Norwegians who emigrated to America 200 years ago.
We are registered as a volunteer organization in “Frivillighetsregisteret” (The Volunteer Registry).
All the work in planning the 2025 voyage and in the Restauration Friends Association is carried out by volunteers without any form of payment.
Cultural Contributors
Many cultural contributors are collaborating with Restauration to ensure that the national 200th anniversary and the voyage receive the recognition they deserve.
This includes contributions in fields such as music, art, literature, photography, film and culinary arts.
(More info will come during the autumn 2024.)
Within music, we collaborate with, among others, the world famous rock band Kaiser’s Orchestra.
Financial Contributors
To enable the preparations and execution of the voyage in 2025, we are entirely dependent on financial support.
This includes contributions from individuals and companies who recognize the importance and value of giving consideration to migration issues and the plight of refugees in today’s world, the close ties and cooperation between Norway and the USA, and our not-so-distant own history of striving for better living conditions.
Our largest contributors to the 2025 voyage so far are our annual corporate sponsors in Norway and a significant donation from an individual residing in the USA.
Please contact us if you or your company are interested in learning more about the benefits of becoming a partner.
Teaching Resources
The 2025 national 200-year anniversary, celebrated both in the USA and Norway, presents a wonderful opportunity to focus on this event in schools, universities, and educational-institutions.
See some suggested educational programs here.
Fundraiser: Broken Dreams – A Light of Hope
A relevant and deserving charity will be chosen. More information to follow in January 2025.
And after the voyage?
After the emigrant ship and icon Restauration HAS replicated the historic voyage – engaging all of Norway and generating significant local involvement with support from many – it will be documented in Norway’s history books.
The objectives include increased regional and national pride, fundraising efforts for organizations that make a difference, and a focus on BRCA testing leading to increased hope and cancer survival.
Project Organization:
The planning of the 2025 voyage is carried out by a dedicated parallel project organization within the Restauration Friends Association.
The group includes a Project Manager and leadership team, including dedicated Technical and Harbor teams, and those responsible for fundraising efforts. In addition, numerous volunteers and businesses contribute in-kind-services, and we collaborate also with several other resource persons.
Welcome on board Restauration Crossings 200 !
** More info about the video on top of this webpage:
Music by Juan Sánchez – Alma – https://thmatc.co/?l=063CB6D6
Acting and screenplay by Jørn Bjørn Augestad. Filming and editing by Isak Augestad.
Sloop Restauration was in recent times the first of many ships that sailed from Norway to the US with emigrants. It left Stavanger Harbour on July 4th in 1825, carrying 52 passengers who, during the 98 day long journey became 53 passenger when they arrived in New York on the 9th of October the same year.
This video is made as a short teaser.