INLUS Webinar – Icelandic Emigration Center

INLUS Webinar on Vesturfarasetrið, the Iceland Emigration Center 

The Icelandic Emigration Center, Vesturfarasetrið, was a dream of its founder, Valgeir Thorvaldsson, when he looked at the sleepy Northern Iceland village of Hofsós in 1990. Hofsós was a historic trading village and was the region where the first historic European settler to North America, Thorfinnur Karlsefni resided.

Thorvaldsson began restoring the buildings that would become an information hub on the great emigration of Icelanders beginning in the later 19th century. Today the Icelandic Emigration Center is a must-see stop on any Icelandic visit to learn about this important event in Iceland’s history.

David Johnson, Mallory Swanson, and Maddie Garneau at Hofsós

On Tuesday, July 23rd you can view a live INLUS webinar exploring this unique Icelandic cultural gem. Learn about the Emigration Center, from this year’s Snorri Alumni Interns, David Johnson from the United States and Maddie Garneau from Canada.

They’ll talk about the importance of the center, what life is like as a summer intern in Iceland, and the adventures they’ve had behind the information desk and in Iceland itself.

They will also share how the Snorri Alumni Internship program helps the outreach program of the center and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at this important heritage site in Iceland.