Danish Folk Dancing during yearly festival known as Danish! Day's SOLVANG "Sunny Field"

A trip to the central coastal area of California, where Windmills are scattered across the landscapes, a town stands, unique to any we know where family names of Brown and Smith are overshadowed by Jensens ond Jorpensens. A compete Danish village constructed in old world fashion where purple cabbage and aebleskiver are part of the menu. This village of approximately 2000 is populated by a majority of families of Danish descent.

Solvang’s Copenhagen Square as seen from the beer garden, where one can have a snack and refreshment. Some of the many steeples in the background.

Solvang was founded in 1911 by three members of a group of Danish educators who had founded the Danish American Corporation in 1910. The purpose of the groups formation was to establish an all Danish community where they could re-create the arts and customs of their homeland.

Three storey windmill, an authentic reproduction of those to be found in Denmark.

We do not know how the group came to locate in this spot; but being completely satisfied by the natural setting and beauty, fertile soil and adequate water supply they purchased 9000 acres of the old Spanish land grant, Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. The old California mission Santa Inea, which had stood so long on this site, came to see vast changes, as the town now stands where once were the fields and grounds of this historic mission.

Copenhagen Drive, a good expanded view of the town and some of the many shops in Danish design.

In formation of Solvang one of the first buildings to be constructed was a two story structure built in 1911 which served as a college until Atterdoy College was built about 1914. It was here that church services were held until the present Danish Lutheran Church was completed in 19~9. As to the nature of early livelihood, the basic economy for years was built around farming and agriculture. The Santa Ynez Valley still has vast groves of walnut trees and many small farms.

Copenhagen Square with underground shops, patio and outdoor beer garden.

To depart from the original plan of these early Solvang settlers, one might say that things got out of hand purely by accident. Such a quaint and different village so near popular resort areas of Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach soon become a point of interest for the traveller passing through the area. Today one can come and spend a full day roaming the tree-lined streets, resting in the park and enjoying a picnic lunch, visiting the old mission and shops, seeing and purchasing import items of every nature from the world over.

The main street of Solvong, Calif- Copenhagen Drive with its unique and colourful shops.

The visitor can enjoy a typical Danish meal in the many fine restaurants, relax in modern motels or travel but a few miles to Lake Cachuma. Also nearby an the Nojoqui Falls and Park as well as an Indian reservation The city of Lompoc known as the "Flower Seed Capital of the World " it only 20 miler away. This is also the site of the west coast home of missiles - Vandenberg Air Force Bare.

This unique trolley bus, known as the heon, traverses the streets of Solvang and offers a free tour of the town in season.

Solvang is a year round point of interest. literally hundreds of thousands of people stop here each year

Some merely to gaze, enjoy coffee and Danish pastries or secure a treasured gift item for themselves or a loved one. The Donnish background and culture is known generally each September in the form of a three-day holiday festival known as "Danish Day." It is a gala affair with costume parade, street dancing and cooking of specialities which are enjoyed and eagerly shared with the visitor.

Cooking ableskiver in the street during Danish Days celebration

Seemingly remote, the equestrian group "Los Rancheros Visitadores" is another yearly activity which is very much a part of Solvang. It is a gathering of horsemen from all over the USA as well as some from outside the country, who assemble for a week of comradeship. The number of riders in the Rancheros is usually in excess of 500 and ore strung out for nearly a mile. This is, in a way, a revival of yearly activities of early California, when ranchers would travel to one another's ranch to help gather stock for market. In the old days it was quite a family social event which was eagerly anticipated by all and shared by the families.

The famous Danish Inn, Solvang, Calif.

Today the group generally consists of businessmen who spend the fgeater part of the year behind a desk but set aside a week just for this outing. The overland ride is between old California Missions, Santa Barbara, and Santa Ines with the starting point alternating each year. Every type of early-day costume and horse gear can be seen in a wide splash of color. Membership is by invitation only and is quite exclusive. Many top names of industry and entertainment are seen in this tremendous horse and rider parade. This activity in itself is extremely exciting, especially for those of us who have a touch of early western life in our blood.

See You Solvang

The Mission Sanfa Ines,