#2 The Danish Pioneer’s Highlights of 2013: A Visit to the Danish Capital of Texas – Danevang
By Linda Steffensen, The Danish Pioneer Newspaper’s Editor –
As part of the Museum of Danish America’s National Board Meetings in February 2013, I had the chance to visit and explore Danevang – the Danish Capital of Texas.
Historic Danevang, a Danish farming community from the late 1800’s, lies in the middle of the Texas prairie. Danevang is about 75 miles southwest of Houston and 10 miles south of El Campo, and it is well worth a visit.
The Danish Heritage Museum in Danevang, TX. (Photo courtesy of The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
You will find the Danish flag flying and make sure to visit the Danish Heritage Museum, The Pioneer House and the Danevang Lutheran Church.
According to www.danevangtx.org, “A group of Danevang residents and former residents formed the Danish Heritage Preservation Society in 1993 with the purpose of preserving the heritage of the Danish immigrants who settled the community of Danevang beginning in 1894. The Society bought three acres of land from the Danevang Lutheran Church at the corner of State Highway 71 and County Road 462. Soon thereafter a residence built in 1898 was donated to the Society and was moved to the purchased site. Over a period of several years, it was repaired and restored to near the original configuration and was furnished with furniture and appliances from the time before 1920. This house was designated ‘The Pioneer House’, which was was built by Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Jensen, some of the earliest settlers in Danevang, Texas. At the same time, planning and fund raising had begun for a museum building. Construction was begun in 2000 on a building designed to resemble a typical Danish barn with a red roof. The building was dedicated on June 1, 2001.”
The Pioneer House in Danevang, TX. (Photo courtesy of The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
Be sure to arrange for a tour in advance of the Danish Heritage Museum, the Pioneer House, the Danevang Lutheran Church, community hall and cemetery.
In addition, please visit the new website www.danevangtx.org to learn more about the buildings themselves, the area’s rich history and upcoming Danevang events.
For example, on Saturday, December 7, 2013, Santa Claus paid a visit to Danevang to help the Texans celebrate Santa Lucia.
As one of its ongoing fundraising efforts, the 2nd Annual Danish Capital of Texas Fun Run will be held on April 5, 2014. Please mark your calendars!
The Danish Heritage Museum & Gift Shop is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Tuesday – Saturday. It is CLOSED on Sundays, Mondays and Holidays.
The Danevang Lutheran Church (Photo courtesy of The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
For Tour Information, please contact the Museum Director at 979-578-0808.
If you get a chance to visit Danevang, please send The Danish Pioneer Newspaper a picture at dpioneer@aol.com and tell us about your own visit to the great state of Texas!
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Welcome to Danevang – The Danish Capital of Texas. (Photo courtesy of The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
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The nice Gift Shop inside the Danish Heritage Museum. (Photo courtesy of The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
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