Swedish Heritage Tourism
Whether you're on a day trip or have made the journey all the way from Sweden, we welcome you to see and experience the rich Swedish heritage of Lindström and the surrounding area.
Click HERE for additional historical information about Lindström.
A printable summary list is coming soon!
Allemansrätt Park, Lindström’s Wilderness and Swedish Heritage Park
The term ‘Allemansrätt’ is a Swedish philosophy of the right of public access, and includes an implicit responsibility to protect and conserve. Literally, ‘allemansrätt’ means “every man’s right” and is written into the Swedish Constitution. It gives everyone in Sweden access to certain public or privately owned land, lakes, and rivers to walk, cycle, ski, camp (for one or two nights), to pick wildflowers, mushrooms and berries.
Allemansrätt Park, Lindström’s 125-acre Wilderness and Swedish Heritage Park, includes a secluded lake, eskers, ephemeral wetlands, an island, a peninsula and an 1853 homestead. Visit our 1890’s historical house kiosk and read the astonishing history of this land. In the spirit of Swedish Allemansrätt, we welcome you to walk, ski, snowshoe, run, canoe/kayak or camp (in designated spots). Click HERE for more information and our park map.
Ki-Chi-Saga County Park
The centerpiece of this 98 acre park is the Karl Oskar House, an original 19th century Swedish Immigrant House that was originally built by Carl and Lena Kajsa Linn. The Karl Oskar House was recently restored by the Lindström Historical Society (currently known as The Friends of the Karl Oskar House). In 1948, Moberg was inspired by this old house and created Karl Oskar & Kristina's fictitious home where they would live their final days. Kristina named it Nya Duvemåla after her home, Duvemåla, in Småland. Interpretive tours of the Karl Oskar House are available on Sundays from 1pm-4pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, as well as some Sundays in May and September. Contact the Friends of the Karl Oskar House by phone 651-253-3373 or by email friendsofkarloskarhouse@gmail.com for current scheduling. For more information or to make a donation visit their website: friendsofthekarloskarhouse.org
A carry in lake access has recently been added on South Center Lake to accommodate folks that are interested in accessing the Chisago Lakes Water Trail from the park. Find additional water trail information on the Chisago Lakes Water Trail Facebook page or on their website. Click HERE for driving, biking or water trail directions to Ki-Chi-Saga Park, or for more information.
The Friends of the Karl Oskar House / Nya Duvemåla, and local videographer Nick Barr, produced a short video to introduce Karl Oskar House / Nya Duvemåla to Swedish travel agencies and other potential visitors. Watch it on YouTube HERE, or click below.
Glader Cemetery
Just a few hundred feet from Ki-Chi-Saga Park is Glader Cemetery, which overlooks South Center Lake. It is the final (fictional) resting place of Vilhelm Moberg's characters, Karl Oskar and Kristina, from his novel series The Emigrants. It is also the final actual resting place of the early Swedish settlers Carl and Lena Kajsa Linn, whose homestead (located at what is now Ki-Chi-Saga Park) played a key role in inspiring Moberg to create the novel series. Carl and Lena Kajsa Linn's headstone is pictured below, with their great grandchildren, Marilyn and Richard. Many of the area's original Swedish settlers are also interred at Glader Cemetery. Established in 1855, it is the oldest Lutheran cemetery in Chisago county and was affiliated with the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church. The cemetery is no longer actively in use with only two burials since 1921.
Swedish Barn Quilt Trail
Take a scenic drive along the Highway 8 corridor to view the wide variety of quilt square patterns and sizes along the Swedish Barn Quilt Trail. The first and smallest (1 X 1 ft.) quilt square can be found at Sven’s in Chisago City, and the trail ends just north of Taylors Falls. Five large 8-foot barn quilt squares are located on the trail, as well more than 45 4-foot or smaller quilt squares in the business corridors and along country roads.
We have over 30 beautiful quilt squares right here in downtown Lindström! The trail showcases the local artists who created the quilt squares, and brings awareness to our area’s Swedish heritage. Click HERE for more information and the Swedish Barn Quilt Trail map.
Swedish Circle Tours
Take a guided or self-guided tour, highlighting our local Swedish heritage. The Swedish Circle© is the name given to the 8 towns in the “Kichi-Saga” greater area. Tours include the Karl Oskar House (Nya Duvemåla), the Gammelgården Immigrant Heritage Museum, and many more historical and beautiful locations. Click HERE for current schedule information and Swedish Events Calendar. Click HERE for the self-guided tour itineraries for Chisago City, Lindström, Center City, Scandia, Shafer, Taylors Falls, Almelund and North Branch.
Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail
This 20 mile, multi-use, hard surface trail provides a safe route for recreation and alternative transportation, while interpreting and celebrating the Swedish Immigrant History of Chisago County. Hear the history of the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail. There is an English Language Version and a Swedish Language Version.
The Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail is still a work in progress, but many segments are completed. Enjoy multiple city and park connections, off road safety, and pollinator gardens along this historic and beautiful trail. Click HERE for general trail maps, future plans, and detailed history. Click HERE for a detailed map of the Lindström segment of the trail.
Note: The trail is closed each year during firearm deer hunting season (early to mid November- check the MN DNR website for exact dates).
The Emigrants (2021)
Norwegian filmmaker, Erik Poppe, released his adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s best-selling Swedish novels The Emigrants on December 25, 2021.
Vilhelm Moberg created Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson to portray the joys and tragedies of daily life for early Swedish pioneers in America. Set in the 1850s, Kristina and Karl-Oskar leave Sweden and embark upon a journey across the Atlantic to give their children a better future in America. Considered one of Sweden's greatest 20th-century writers, Moberg brings to life the strength and courage of those who followed their dreams in this timeless adventure story. First published between 1949 and 1959 in Swedish, these four books were considered a single work by Moberg, who intended that they be read as documentary novels.
Moberg based his novels on the life of Erik Norelius, an early settler who left Hassela, Sweden, for Minnesota in 1850. Norelius settled in Lindström, and many of his descendants still live here today. Karl-Oskar and Kristina are depicted in statue on the west end of downtown Lindström, just across the street from Erik Norelius's statue. Vilhelm Moberg's statue stands proudly in Moberg Park in our neighboring town of Chisago City. Moberg is depicted on his bicycle, which he rode around this area in 1948 to conduct research for his novels.
To view The Emigrants (2021) film's trailer, click HERE.
Tingsryd, Sweden, Lindström's Sister City
Click here to learn more about Tingsryd, Sweden, Lindström's Sister City!
Additional Lindström Swedish Heritage Events, Points of Interest & Travel Resources
Lindström Historical Walking Tour: Visit downtown Lindström's historic buildings, Swedish-inspired murals, Swedish signage, and of course, our famous coffee pot water tower. Walk the loops featured on this self-guided tour for an in-depth history of our most famous and historically significant sites. Click HERE for a printable tour map and brochure.
The Chisago County Historical Society is also located in downtown Lindström, and has several permanent and temporary Swedish heritage exhibits, as well as a research library and gift shop.
Karl Oskar Days is our city's Swedish heritage celebration, taking place each year in early to mid July. A fun variety of Swedish heritage inspired and modern day events span this 5 day celebration.
The Chisago Lakes Chamber, which is located in downtown Lindström (pictured below), and the Chisago Lakes Tourism websites are also great resources for local events and information. For the pre-planned trip itineraries, click HERE.
Chisago Lakes Area: Swedish Heritage Events, Points of Interest & Travel Resources
Chisago Lake Lutheran Church & Archives Room: Take a guided tour of the church's historical Archives Room, which displays more than 160 years of local Swedish and Christian history. Located less than 2 miles northeast of Lindström, this historic church was established in the mid-1850's, and was featured in the film Grumpy Old Men (1993). For directions click HERE.
Gammelgården Immigrant Heritage Museum: Meaning “old farm” in Swedish, the Gammelgården Museum is an open-air museum devoted to preserving, presenting, and promoting Swedish immigrant heritage in the United States. Through the historic buildings that have been preserved, artifacts on display, special events, and classes, visitors can experience the daily lives of early immigrants in Minnesota through a Swedish lens. Located in Scandia. For directions click HERE.
Moody Lake Park Round Barn: This farm site, known today as Moody Lake Park, was originally settled in 1871 by Elof and Eva Modig from Sweden. They changed their surname to Peterson and finally to Moody in late 1800’s. The big blue round barn was built in 1915 by Charles A. Moody as the local area was transitioning from wheat to dairy (cheese & butter) farming. It was one of many round barns that were built in Chisago County and Minnesota at that time. Today it is the only remaining round barn in Chisago County and one of about a dozen in the state of Minnesota. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Chisago Lake Township. For directions click HERE.
The American Swedish Institute is a museum, a cultural education center, a café, a destination store, a historic mansion, and more. Learn about Sweden and Swedish-American culture and heritage, Scandinavian folk arts and culture, the Turnblad Family, and contemporary Swedish art and culture. Programs and activities, both in-person and virtual, offer experiences for all ages centered on craft, culture, and play. Located in Minneapolis, less than an hour drive from Lindström. For directions click HERE.