Norwegian King Harald V grants National Nordic Museum Director Eric Nelson with knighthood

Meghan Walker Ballard

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway has awarded National Nordic Museum director Eric Nelson with knighthood for his work advancing Norwegian-American relations.

This is the third time a Nordic head of state has knighted Nelson: President Nelson Sauli Niinistö of Finland granted Nelson with Knight of the Order of the White Rose, and His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden awarded Nelson Knight First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

Norway’s Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken R. Krutnes presented Nelson with the honor on July 18 in a ceremony at the National Nordic Museum. Governor Jay Inslee, Viggo Forde, Honorary Consul of Norway for the Pacific Northwest, and more than 300 supporters and friends of the museum attended the ceremony.

“It is my great pleasure to congratulate Eric Nelson on receiving the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit from His Majesty King Harald V,” Ambassador Anniken R. Krutnes said. “This honor is awarded to individuals who have performed outstanding service in the interests of Norway – and Mr. Nelson has certainly done just that. I want to thank him for all he has accomplished.”

Nelson led the efforts to build the new National Nordic Museum—a $53 million campaign that now houses the museum’s collection of over 80,000 objects. After the completion of the new facility in 2018, an Act of Congress gave the museum national designation, turning it into the National Nordic Museum.

Beyond serving its purpose as a museum, the National Nordic Museum also hosts meetings and conventions throughout the year on issues including Nordic/U.S. innovation, economic development, environmental policy, cultural identity, and societal issues.

“I’m honored to receive this award on behalf of the National Nordic Museum and our community of supporters who made it possible to realize the dream of a new state of the art Museum,” Nelson said. “This award celebrates the region’s Nordic community and close ties between the Pacific Northwest and Norway.”

Photos: Nick Klein/National Nordic Museum. Second photo: Norway’s Ambassador to the United States Anniken R. Krutnes and Executive Director/CEO Eric Nelson.