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 open now through August 25th!
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 – In Progress
- Nøglen Fra Cordoba (Book Talk) – Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend
- Nordic War Stories – Marianne Stecher-Hansen, University of Washington
- New Nordic Cuisine – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America
- Furnishing with a Scandinavian Accent – Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America
- Jarls, Karls, and Thralls: Viking Age Society – Terri Barnes, Portland Community College
- Talk by Hanne Støvring, American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst
- More Coming…
2025 Program Abstracts – In Progress
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.
Nordic War Stories – Marianne Stecher-Hansen, University of Washington, Seattle Washington Situated on Europe’s northern periphery, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden found themselves caught between warring powers during World War II. Ultimately, these nations survived the conflict as sovereign states whose wartime experiences have profoundly shaped their historiography, literature, cinema and memory cultures. Nordic War Stories explores the commonalities and divergences among the five Nordic countries, examining national historiographies alongside representations of the war years in canonical literary works, travel writing, and film media. Together, they comprise a valuable companion that challenges the myth of Scandinavian homogeneity while demonstrating the powerful influence that the war continues to exert on national identities.
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.
More to be announced
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.