Nasjonalbiblioteket

Den amerikanske frihetsgudinnen på rosa bakgrunn. En rund utstillingslogo til venstre i bildet med teksten Rett Vest. — Gjennom bøker, brev, dagbøker, kart, aviser, bilder, film, lydopptak og myteomspunne gjenstander forteller utstillingen *Rett vest* historien om de norske utvandrerne og landet de kom til.

I år er det 200 år siden starten på den store utvandringsbølgen fra Norge til Amerika. Hva drømte de om de som dro? Og hvem gikk drømmene deres på bekostning av? Vi løfter frem mangfoldet av historier gjennom en stor utstilling, arrangementer og podkastepisoder.

EN: 2025 marks the 200^th anniversary of the start of the great emigration wave from Norway to America. What were the dreams of those who made the journey? And who had to bear the brunt of their great dreams? Through a large exhibition, accompanied by various events and podcast episodes, we highlight the diversity of stories integral to this historical phenomenon.

I juli 1825 seilte skipet Restauration fra Stavanger til New York med 52 norske emigranter om bord. Fra 1825 og fram til 1930 fulgte nesten 900 000 nordmenn drømmen om et bedre liv i Amerika.

For mange nordmenn bar det rett vest. De fleste dro bokstavelig talt vestover til områdene med billig jord i Midtvesten, som på den tiden utgjorde grenseområdet for De forente stater. Et område preget ikke bare av mye og billig jord, men også dødelige sykdommer, skurker, krig og konflikt.

På Nasjonalbiblioteket bidrar vi til den nasjonale markeringen ved å trekke fram nye perspektiver og en rekke historier gjennom en utstilling, arrangementer, podkastepisoder og annen formidling.

Why did so many Norwegians emigrate to America? This year we commemorate the bicentennial of the start of the great Norwegian mass emigration to America. But why did they actually leave? The reasons might not be what you think. English subtitles available.

Commemoration of Norwegian Emigration to America 2025

In July of 1825 the vessel Restauration set sail from Stavanger to New York, with 52 Norwegian emigrants on board. From 1825 to 1930, nearly 900,000 Norwegians followed the dream of a better life in America.

The West was enticing to many Norwegians. Most of them travelled literally westward to the areas of the Midwest with inexpensive land; in those days this was the frontier area of the United States. Cheap and plentiful land was not the only thing in abundance here – there was also deadly diseases, villains, war and conflict.

The National Library of Norway is playing a part in this national bicentennial by highlighting new perspectives and a number of stories through an exhibition, events, podcast episodes and other activities.

Exhibition: Gone West. Dreaming of a Better Life in America.

Was it too good to be true? An enormous continent, open for settlement, with countless opportunities to get rich quick. A new world full of possibilities for a better life, where the family’s future could be secured.

The migration stream from Norway to America is considered to have begun in 1825. Between then and 1930, almost 900,000 Norwegians followed the dream of a better life “over there.”

Most of these Norwegians settled in the frontier regions of the Midwest, where land could be purchased cheaply. The reality they were met with there was often a far cry from what they had been dreaming of. Along with the plentiful land, deadly epidemics, extreme weather, bandits, and violent conflicts were also, unfortunately, plentiful.

What did Norwegian immigrants really dream of – a livelihood, cheap land, freedom, gold? What, exactly, was the reality like that they encountered on the frontier? How did they do there? And who would suffer because of what these Norwegians were dreaming of?

The exhibition is free of charge. Plan your visit here.