About Us

The Norwegian Emigration Center was established in 1986 for the purpose of helping emigrated Norwegians find their roots. The Center was established in the wake of the 150th anniversary when the brigg's "Norden" and "Den Norske Klippe" embarked from Stavanger with 167 emigrants bound for America. It also marked the beginning of the emigration - festival, which was an annual event until year 2000.

We still help people find their heritage, or living relatives, but in recent years, much of our resources has been used for teaching and larger projects, which helps us understand the connection between yesterday's emigration and today's immigration. This is the core of our European Capital of Culture project for 2008 called Youth and Migration - YAM2008.

We also cheerish our rich emigration history. That is why the "Migrasjon Rogaland" project was started. This collaborating project is currently building a replica of the famous Norwegian emigrant ship "Restauration," which in 1825 left the city of Stavanger with 52 people bound for the New World. See our exibithion: People one the move.

If you're ever in Stavanger and you are interested in either genealogy or emigration history, please stop by our office in Stavanger. Welcome!