Freedom of Expression and the “Walk of Pain”
A bronze plaque with the footprints of Quaker Mary Ellen McNish, former General Secretary (CEO) of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), embedded in the pavement at Vågen Bay harbor, Stavanger.
The plaque is part of the Walk of Pain, a short trail around the bay with the footprints of several Nobel Peace Laureates and peace advocates.
The Quakers and their relief organizations were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.
Humanitarian efforts to alleviate human suffering, including those that contribute to the international peace movement and oppose war and the use of weapons leading to persecution and imprisonment, will be commemorated at the Walk of Pain at Vågen Bay harbor during Restauration’s departure on July 4, 2025.
The 2025 voyage will be non-sectarian, but nevertheless honor the original ship’s Quaker passengers. The religious imagery of 1825 will be anchored in the ship’s ballast in the form of a Martin Luther’s House-Postil, which was widely used at the time.
Also onboard will be a gift of two candles from the Quaker community in Stavanger to the Quakers in England and the USA. The candles symbolize safety, warmth, and hope, and are crafted by the sheltered workshop Ranso.
Various events are planned and will be updated on our timeline.
Read the speech in English here…
Child’s Blanket
There were 52 individuals who embarked in 1825, 53 arrived after a birth during the voyage.
The Restauration Friends Association will honor Margaret Allen who was born onboard on 2 September 1825.
The child’s mother, Martha, was from Fogn and married to Lars Larson Gjeilane. Martha’s home community is knitting a belated maternity gift that they hope will be presented to a little girl born in New York on Margaret Allen’s 200th birthday. It is hoped that this child, 1 month and 6 days old, will meet us on the quay in New York.
The child’s mother, Martha, was from Fogn and married to Lars Larson Gjeilane. Martha’s home community is making a belated maternity gift that will sail with her as a present. A little girl born in New York on Margaret Allen’s 200th birthday, 1 month and 6 days old, will meet us on the quay in New York. Martha’s home community and the Restauration Friends Association hope so.
Copper stone from Norway – The Statue of Liberty
Was some of the copper in the Statue of Liberty refined from pyrite extracted from the Vigsnes mine in Karmøy?
According to metallurgical analyses conducted in 1976 by Bell Laboratories, USA, some of the copper in the statue’s skin originates from Vigsnes in Avaldsnes.
The Statue of Liberty in New York, stands as a universal symbol of hope, belonging, and new opportunities, values relevant both to the Norwegian emigrants’ search for freedom and the challenges of migration today.
(More information about the mines, industrial history, etc. at: aleksander-hauge.com – select “Prosjekter” (Projects) – “Vigsnæs kobberværk” (Copper Works), use Google translate).
Art Exhibition
Onboard Art Exhibition sailing from Stavanger to New York featuring graphic works of the Restauration by Ingvar Moi.
The paintings are sketched in pencil, then screen printed and painted with tar.
Each piece is unique, as the tar is applied in multiple layers. The tar used is extracted from pine roots found in Nedstrand in Tysvær and burned in a traditional tar kiln on Karmøy, using authentic, old-fashioned methods.
Each work is numbered. Editions: 40 smaller and 20 slightly larger: 40×40 cm and 53×53 cm (including frames).
Aside from the three artworks that will sail from Norway to the USA in summer 2025, the others are available for purchase now. Many have already been sold.
A large portion of the proceeds will go to the Restauration Friends Association to support the 2025 voyage.
Orders and payments can be made through the artist, Ingvar Moi. Send an email to ingvar.m@online.no.
Prices: NOK 8,000 and 12,000 (larger) for a framed artwork. Large graphic prints 120×120cm. Editions: 20. Price without frame NOK 10,000 (not pictured). Any shipping from Stavanger, Norway is additional.
About Ingvar Moi:
Artist Ingvar Moi has worked with artworks from nature, forests, and trees for many years. He has discovered a way to use old-fashioned wood tar in his art works that creates a warm and natural atmosphere. This use of tar is particularly fitting for depictions of old boats. Ingvar Moi has held numerous exhibitions across Norway in recent years.
See more of his projects and artworks at ingvarmoi.no.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge.)
A picture of the earth seen from the outside depicting our world and that if we don’t overuse the earth, it is lovely, we can all inhabit it and live good lives without using as many resources as now.
Artist Anders Jolma Gausdal.
More info: www.facebook.com/anders.gusdal and www.instagram.com/andersjolmaart/
Reenactment of the “Moonshine and Potatoes” story
Two barrels of aquavit will be placed on the Madeira cask and sail to the United States and back. Limited edition, numbered, and signed barrels are available for pre-sale.
Done in collaboration with Jærakevitt, DNB (Det Norske Brenneri), Argus, and Vinmonopolet.
Read about the role of spirits in Norwegian society at the beginning of the 19th century here… (Only in Norwegian.)
Red trip: medicine and research
A letter to America “Thank you for life, Mary-Claire”
The hereditary BRCA “cancer genes” likely spread to North America with emigrants from Norway. American Mary-Claire King identified the BRCA genes, allowing for survival in Norway as well. A thank-you letter to Mary-Claire King will be included in the voyage.
It will be commemorated onboard with a pink ribbon as we sail into New York in October 2025 during the international pink month.
(Eventually extra information ONS+ event. And in TV2.no article.)
The Chess Piece “The King”
In Honor of Håvard Søiland: His chess piece, “The King,” sails across the Atlantic.
In honor of Professor Håvard Søiland, his chess piece, “The King”, will sail with Restauration across the Atlantic, from Stavanger to New York. This piece symbolizes Dr. Søiland’s tireless fight against breast cancer and his passion for “checkmating cancer.”
His widow, Marit, presented this “King” to the Restauration Friends Association during the ONS+ days on August 27, 2024, under the banner of Vitality and Cancer.
Håvard was a distinguished doctor and researcher, known for his deep commitment to breast cancer research. As the head of the research group at Stavanger University Hospital and a professor of endocrine surgery at the University of Bergen, he dedicated his life to finding new ways to improve treatment for cancer patients. He always placed patients and their future at the center of his work, striving to bring them hope through early diagnosis and better treatment options.
His personal engagement in the fight against cancer was further highlighted through his collaboration with Norway Chess, where he initiated the project “Checkmate Breast Cancer.” Håvard viewed cancer as a strategic opponent—one he was determined to defeat. Through the universal language of chess and his unwavering dedication to research, he bridged the gap between science and human hope.
The chess piece, “The King,” represents his strength, foresight, and ability to always think several moves ahead. It stands as a symbol of his relentless battle for vitality and survival—a battle that now continues across the ocean, with Restauration as the bearer of his memory and dedication.
As the King sails across the great ocean, it signifies more than just a possession of the ship. It is a symbol of the struggle so many endure, and of Håvard’s unyielding belief that one day, cancer can be declared “Checkmate.”
Anniversary Postal Stamp in 2025
New Anniversary Stamp from Posten (Norwegian mail service) in 2025.
Other items on board during the voyage:
- Bread:
Bread, which has been consumed for at least 10,000 years, holds deep symbolic meaning as a symbol of life and sustenance. Sharing bread has historically strengthened bonds between people. Emigration can be a response to economic challenges, where people seek better opportunities, such as access to food and education, for themselves and their families.
Restauration will feature bread from Rosekildehavens Bageri in Stavanger, established in 1778. (Which MAY have supplied bread to the Restauration in 1825…?) More information is available on the Cultural Heritage Fund’s (Kulurminnefondets) website. - Coffee:
We are proud of our collaboration with Rogaland Kaffehus and their locally produced Restauration Sailor Roast coffee, which is rooted in Stavanger’s rich trade traditions. As a Bronze Partner in the Stagseilet Jageren on the Restauration Crossings200 voyage, we carry on the legacy—through the Restauration, the emigrant history, maritime craftsmanship, and coffee culture. Read more… - Books:
In 1825, books were an important part of the cargo on sailing ships like the Restauration, even though libraries as we know them today did not exist. In 2025, this tradition continues on the Restauration, but with modern digital tools such as the ability to keep digital journals and communicate via satellite. This voyage creates a bridge between the past and the present, between chests filled with books and digital platforms to carry the story forward.
Read more…
