Emigranternas Hus

Emigranternas Hus is a two story museum near the harbor dedicated to the history and research of Swedish immigration abroad, with a focus on American immigration from 1850-1920. The first section of the museum explores the reasons behind American immigration and how people prepared themselves to leave. The second section shows how Swedes entered into and adapted to American culture. The most common factors pushing Swedes to the New World include crop failures and a population boom. The biggest pull to move to the States were job prospects, free land, and religious freedom.

Emigraternas Hus contains a small research center where you can search the archives yourself on computer, or get help with the task for a minimal fee. The center also conducts daily school visits.  The staff compares Swedish immigration to the US with current international immigration to Sweden today. The center helps Swedes understand the challenges involved in immigrating to another country, whether that be 100 years ago or 100 days ago.

One Way Ticket to America

A trip to the United States cost a year's wages for most people, so families would elect one person to go, and together they would raise the money for the trip. That person would leave everything and everyone they know behind to make a new life. If the were successful, they would send extra money back to their family at home and each family member would also come to the US in due time.

A map created by a travel agency to entice Swedes to dream about the places they could go in the New World.

 A painting showing Swedes who are about to leave. They would often come a week early to prepare. They would buy the necessary supplies for the crossing, take one last family photo in Sweden, and buy new clothes. They also fell prey to pickpockets and swindlers who set up shop in the departure area.

Statistics on Swedish immigration to the States. The white areas represent Swedes who left. The red line indicates how many came back to Sweden after some time.

 A Swedish-American newspaper ad from 1890 illustrating the difference between Swedes who have just arrived and those who have been in the US for some time. 

An ad from the White Star Line, a company whose boats brought many Swedes to the New World.

 A Swedish shopkeeper in the States. The ad on the bottom left is in English and Swedish -"Stream Laundry. Swedish Spoken Here"