Jackson Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Norway Building

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, October 9, 2018

1. The Norway Building Marker

Inscription. The Norway Building stood on this site for the 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition. After the Fair Chicago millionaire C.K. Billings purchased the structure and moved it to his estate in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. William Wrigley of chewing gum fame later became the owner. In 1935 the building was purchased by Isak Dahle and moved to Little Norway in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, an outdoor museum showcasing Norwegian heritage. In 2015 the Norway Building was brought back to Orkanger, Norway, where it had been originally constructed and was again rebuilt. The Norway Building is modeled after the Norwegian stave churches of the Middle Ages. It is one of the few buildings from the Exhibition in original condition and the only one to return to its country of origin.

Erected 2018 by The Directorate of Cultural Heritage Norway and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society, and the Norwegian-Americans series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 41° 47.398′ N, 87° 34.773′ W.

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Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Jackson Park. It is at the intersection of Science Drive and South Lake Shore Drive, on the right when traveling north on Science Drive. On the south grounds of the Museum of Science and Industry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60637, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Chicago’s South Side. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jackson Park Improvements (approx. ¼ mile away); Osaka Garden (approx. 0.3 miles away); 35th Anniversary of Chicago-Osaka Sister City Relationship (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Osaka Garden (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Jackson Park Improvements

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, October 9, 2018

2. The Norway Building Marker

Area described in marker.

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Yoko Ono (approx. 0.3 miles away); Legacy Tree Preservation Project, March, 2026 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Rain, Snow, Flush, Grow (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Other markers no longer nearby. Museum of Science and Industry (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Garden of the Phoenix (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, October 9, 2018

3. The Norway Building Marker

Close-up of photo from bottom of marker.

<i>Little Norway</i> image. Click for full size.

Staber W. Reese (photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources), 1944

4. Little Norway

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 548 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 16, 2018, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on October 16, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.