The Danish American Cultural Retreat (DACR) is an annual opportunity to learn about topics related to Denmark and other Nordic countries. A true Pacific Northwest tradition, DACR has been held every year for more than 40 years at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.
DACR offers:
- A rich program to illustrate the significance of Denmark on the global stage
- An annual opportunity to learn about Denmark and its links to the United States, today and in the past
Danish American Cultural Retreat at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center September 12, 13, and 14, 2025
Registration is now closed. Please email emily@nwdanish.org with any questions.
Can’t attend in person? After-event access to talk recordings will be available. Stay tuned for how to register for that!
A registration perk is access to all the DACR 2023 and 2024 talk videos. Access will be linked in your registration confirmation email.
Still not sure? You can view Katia Johansen’s 2023 talk Working with Royal Dress: Royal Danish Collections at Rosenborg Castle:
DACR 2025
The 2025 conference will be September 12th through 14th.
2025 Program Overview
- Nøglen Fra Cordoba (Book Talk) – Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend (Saturday morning)
- The Emperor’s New Clothes as a Nordic War Story – Marianne Stecher-Hansen, University of Washington (Sunday morning)
- New Nordic Cuisine – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America (Friday afternoon)
- Furnishing with a Scandinavian Accent – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America (Saturday morning)
- Jarls, Karls, and Thralls: Viking Age Society – Terri Barnes, Portland Community College (Saturday afternoon)
- Where Art Sparks New Perspectives: International Fundraising Connected to SMK/Statens Museum For Kunst-The National Gallery Of Denmark – Hanne Støvring, American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst (Friday afternoon)
- Danish Originals – Christian D. Bruun and Teresa Lai, Danish Originals Podcast (Sunday morning)
- Saturday Evening Entertainment by Danish Troubadour, Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend
2025 Program Abstracts
Nøglen Fra Cordoba (Book Talk) – Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend, Olympia Washington The novel “The Key from Cordoba” is inspired by A.H. Behrends: Some Personal Information about Agent Behrends Liv (1915), a small book that I found many years ago at the Royal Library in Copenhagen. My novel tells the story of the Jew Joachim, who arrived in Copenhagen in 1783. He was sent to Denmark by his mother for an arranged marriage with a young Jewish woman living there. The novel follows him through his development and his marriages until he becomes a successful, wealthy businessman with connections to the royal family. The reader is brought into the tumultuous period in Danish history, when the country experienced the Battle of the Nest and the bombardment of Copenhagen. The story also deals with the conditions of the Jews at the end of the 19th century, as well as the Jewish riots in the capital in 1820, which ultimately contributed to Joachim’s death.
The Emperor’s New Clothes as a Nordic War Story – Marianne Stecher-Hansen, University of Washington, Seattle Washington This talk explores the famous fairy tale (“Kejserens nye Klæder,” 1837) by Hans Christian Andersen as a ‘revolutionary parable’ that was relevant in its day (1830s) and is still current today! The presentation will demonstrate how this “fairy tale” circulated as an “underground text,” published illegally during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II. The presentation builds on Marianne’s edited collection, Nordic War Stories, a collaborative work that grew out of decades of teaching at UW.
New Nordic Cuisine – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn Iowa “New Nordic Cuisine” is a culinary movement that emerged from the Nordic region in the early 21st century. Taking inspiration from the natural resources and cultural traditions of the Nordic region, the New Nordic Cuisine movement has influenced cooking – and eating – around the world.
Furnishing with a Scandinavian Accent – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn Iowa “Furnishing with a Scandinavian Accent” compares and contrasts the ways in which Danish American and Norwegian Americans express their heritage in their homes. More importantly, this presentation will explore the historical events that have influenced how these two immigrant communities – which many might assume are very similar – express themselves in very different ways.
Jarls, Karls, and Thralls: Viking Age Society – Terri Barnes, Portland Community College, Portland Oregon In this talk, Terri discuses the structure of society during the Viking Age. What exactly is a viking? Were there shieldmaidens? What was it like to be a child? Who did all the work? Who was in power? And how do we know about all of this? Learn what the written sources and archaeology tell us about life in Scandinavia 1,200 years ago.
Where Art Sparks New Perspectives: International Fundraising Connected to SMK/Statens Museum For Kunst-The National Gallery Of Denmark – Hanne Støvring, American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen Denmark Art connects people. Through partnerships and philanthropy, American Friends of SMK invites people, organizations, and societies to use art as a unifying force shaping our shared future. In AFSMK – American Friends of SMK, we firmly believe that art serves as a universal language – it transcends borders, cultivates connections between cultures, and enriches our lives in countless ways. This belief fuels our mission to support SMK in its pursuit to inspire, educate, and unite people through its exceptional collection and expertise. In an ever-evolving world, we understand the significance of cultural diplomacy, with art philanthropy playing a crucial role in fostering international understanding. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of AFSMK’s patrons, our mission continues to thrive, building bridges across the Atlantic and enhancing cultural appreciation. My talk will evolve around how and why AFSMK – AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SMK was established. Which results we’ve reached, how easy it is to engage in our ever-expanding community and what we envision in the future.
Danish Originals – Christian D. Bruun and Teresa Lai, Danish Originals Podcast, Los Angeles California Weekly, our podcast series Danish Originals features a different Dane who is impactful in the US. We identify Danes, some who live in the US, and others who do not, whose work speaks to Danish creativity, originality, and innovation. And we want to hear about the mark they have made and get to know them. Some of these creatives are household names, others are known predominantly in their own fields. And we have found in our interviews that each Danish Original has a really interesting story to tell and a unique set of ideas to offer. As an opener for each episode, our Danish Originals tell us about a work of art that speaks to them at the National Gallery of Denmark. We have a roster of close to 100 interview subjects and we are excited to spread the word.
A typical year at DACR:
DACR is typically held in person in Oregon each year. DACR is now held in September.
Program Features:
The rich DACR program has included presentations by CEOs, presidents, or other representatives from key players in the Danish American community, such as:
- Museum of Danish America
- Nordic Museum
- Scan Design Foundation
- Embassy of Denmark, USA
- Novo Nordisk
- WWII and the Danish Resistance Movement -Author Nathaniel Hong\
- Hans Christian Andersen -Dr. Marianne Stecher, UW Scandinavian Studies Professor and Head of UW Danish Program
- The Golden Era of Danish Silent Films -Kristian Næsby, UW Scandinavian Studies Visiting Danish lecturer
- Vikings in Denmark -Author William Sullivan
- Falck: Danish Emergency Services -Peter Jorna, Falck USA
- Danish Cheeses -Dr. Lisbeth Goddik, OSU Dairy Processing Extension Specialist and Associate Professor in Food Science
- Nimbus Motorcycles –Nimbus Motorcycle Club, USA
- Danish Defense Policies –Niels Ulrik Olsen, Royal Danish Embassy
- The Greenland Ice Sheet and Climate Change -Dr. Christina Hulbe, Portland State University
Learn or Practice Danish. DACR offers optional classes for those who would like to learn some Danish at the retreat! Many Danish speakers attend DACR allowing ample opportunities to speak the language.
Nature Walks
Experience waterfalls and lush green surroundings at DACR. We take a field trip to one of the waterfalls each year and to the nearby vista house with spectacular views of the Columbia river.
Evening Entertainment
Each year we have evening entertainment for guests to enjoy before ‘Kro Aften’. On Friday we celebrate Sankt Hans with snobrød and traditional Danish midsommer songs around the fire.
Kro Aften
To wind down from all the daily activities, guests are invited to join us in the ‘Kro’ each evening for beer, wine, and bar snacks.
Conference Schedule
Friday check-in: Begins at 11:00 am followed by Menucha orientation and then lunch at 12:00 pm.
Friday programs: 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am to 9:30 am
The Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
DACR is held at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon. Menucha Retreat offers a variety of amenities and lodging options. Lodging options include rooms that are private, semi-private, or dormitory style.
The beautiful grounds at Menucha have so much to offer, including:
- Panoramic views
- A swimming pool and courts for a variety of sports
- Hiking trails, fire pits, and much more
Getting to DACR
The Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett is located right on the Washington-Oregon state border.
Approximate travel times:
- From Seattle: Less than 4 hours by car
- From Portland: 30 minutes by car
For those who need a ride from Seattle or Portland, we can help arrange carpools. Guests can also fly in to Portland International Airport. We can help arrange rides from the airport, if needed.
Watch for mailed postcards, website information, The Little Mermaid, and e-bulletin announcements with updates! To receive the most up to date information on DACR and other NWDA programs, events, and activities, sign up for our e-bulletin mailing list.