Photo at the top: Frode Skarstein.
We will repeat the voyage again in 2025
Sailing from Stavanger in Norway to New York City.
To honor, among others, those who left in 1825 in search of a better life.
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.
The voyage will be part of the national 200th anniversary celebrations in both Norway and North America.
The Restauration Friends Association has established a project organization to plan and execute the voyage. Read more…
Goals:
Restauration Crossings200 voyage:
- To follow the original route and experiences of those who sailed in 1825
- To support the charity, Broken Dreams – A Light Of Hope
- To preserve the 1825 voyage’s history and bring its stories into our 2025 interpretation
- 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
- Discuss contemporary migration issues in the light of our own history
- Build closer ties between today’s Norwegians abroad and Norway
Feel free to read:
– the debate article by the leader of the Norwegian Executive Committee for the 200th anniversary about the background, why it is relevant in 2025, and some highlights in Norway during the anniversary year. (Use google translate.)
– the article “A Voyage That Connects the Past and the Future” in the journal Mortepumpen on pages 8-12 (Only in Norwegian.)
Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja will participate in the historic departure of the Restauration.
A historical retrospective and comparison: see newspaper articles with pictures from the public celebration during the 150th anniversary in the city of Stavanger in 1975 here…
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 hopeful people started their 98-day journey towards a new and unknown future, arriving in New York City on October 9th.
The crossing will be the largest historical event of the bicentennial commemoration of Norwegian emigration to North America in modern times. Read more…
Illustration: Jens Flesjå
Information about crew members and requirements to join, as well as historically sustainable clothing.
More information, including a recording of the announcement about our new voyage, the emigration from Norway, and the film “The Emigrants”.
The crossing will be the largest event of the bicentennial commemoration of Norwegian emigration to America.
We invite you to become an active part of the Restauration Crossings200 voyage. Together, we can build a collective effort leading up to the voyage in 2025.
Feel free to send your feedback and ideas in North America or (Norway) crossings200@annomuseum.no.
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.
Inside the “American Trunk” on board
Through the contents of an “American Trunk”, 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”
- A baby blanket
- Copper stone from the Vigsnesmine 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”
- Red trip: Medicine and research. A letter to America – Thank you for life Mary Claire. The “King” of Chess Pieces.
Preparations for the Voyage
- Silent Sea – Progress Package. See more here…
- Viking Life – Saving Equipment, lifeboats, and survival suits. Read more here…
- Hydroscand, Department Forus. Expertise and installation of new diesel and water tanks, a shared cooling water fold. See more here…
- The spirit of volunteerism in the Restauration Friends Association and the technical team for Restauration Crossings200, led by Odd Kenneth Tollefsen.
Supplies
With five meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, and afternoon coffee) for a crew of 11 over 98 days, a total of 5,390 meals will be served on board during the crossing.
If you or your company would like to contribute to provisions for the skipper and crew, please contact us at: post@restauration.no
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
- Coffee: Locally produced Restauration Sailor Roast coffee from Rogaland Kaffehus.
- Komle: A hearty meal to keep us satisfied at sea, provided by Stangeland Mølle.
- Bread: From Rosekildehavens Bageri in Stavanger, established in 1778. Could they have been the ones supplying bread to Restauration in 1825?
Accompanying Art Exhibition
We carry art and pictures with us during the crossing to America, which symbolize our freedom of expression and cultural heritage that binds us to our homeland. These objects create a sense of community and identity, even on a long and uncertain journey.
Cultural Contributors
Many cultural stakeholders are working with Restauration to ensure that the national bicentenary and the voyage get the recognition they deserve.
Within e.g. music, art, literature, photography, film, food and drink.
Within music, we collaborate with the following:
- Kaizers Orchestra. In October 2024, they was on a short tour in the USA. In 2025 ………..
- Mari Hauge, artist and songwriter from Stavanger. Read more…
- Klang av Oldtid v/Gaute Vikedal, Norwegian musician, known for his work in contemporary music and folk music.
- Rita Eriksen, Norwegian singer from Sola.
- GHM Film AS, represented by producer Geir Mæland, with the aim of producing a documentary series that sheds light on Restaurationen’s unique place in Norwegian emigrant history. Read more…
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.
Please contact us if you or your company are interested in learning more about the benefits of becoming a partner.
Fundraiser: Broken Dreams – A Light Of Hope
Two hundred years ago, our ancestors set sail on the Restauration in search of a better life. Today, we commemorate this history as emigrants with a fundraising campaign for children affected by conflict – a collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages.
The fundraising campaign starts on July 4th and ends on October 9th, 2025
Migration is timeless, and our voyage serves as a reminder of both the past and the present. The fundraising campaign “Broken Dreams – A Light Of Hope” aims to give children hope, care, and a secure future. Join us on this journey and help fulfill dreams.
Liv Ullmann, Ambassador for the Restauration memorial voyage, inspires and amplifies the message of standing up for the most vulnerable.
Join and support the campaign – together, we can create a better future for children.
“You must not tolerate so deeply the injustice that does not affect you yourself.“
Read more…
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.
On the “What’s happening?” section of this website, and under “News” and “Activities” on this website.
Restauration’s Sailaway event Crossings200, July 3rd in Stavanger.
What’s happening in North America?
What’s happening in Norway?
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) in Norway.
All the work in planning the 2025 voyage and in the Restauration Friends Association is carried out by volunteers without any form of payment.
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.
Welcome on board the Restauration Voyage Crossings200 !
** 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.