Norwegian Lady Statues facts for kids
The Norwegian Lady Statues are special monuments found in two cities: Moss, Norway and Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States. These cities are called "sister cities" because they have a close connection. The statues remember the people who lost their lives in a terrible shipwreck in 1891. This shipwreck involved a Norwegian ship called the Dictator off the coast of Virginia Beach. The statues also honor the brave people who tried to save lives during that event.
The Shipwreck of the Dictator
On March 27, 1891, a Norwegian sailing ship named the Dictator was lost at sea. Its home port was Moss, Norway. The ship was caught in strong storms along the East Coast of the United States. It was heading to Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia for repairs.
However, the Dictator ran into very strong winds. Just a few miles from Cape Henry, the ship was pushed onto a sandbar. This happened about 300 yards (300 m) offshore of Virginia Beach. The ship's two lifeboats were destroyed. Its main mast and other parts fell onto the deck.
People staying at the Princess Anne Hotel and local residents watched. Members from the United States Life-Saving Service stations at Seatack and Cape Henry worked hard to rescue people. This service was a group that helped save people from shipwrecks. They started their rescue efforts around 10:45 A.M.
Eight of the 17 people on board were saved. Rescuers used different methods, including a special device called a breeches buoy. This device allowed people to be pulled from the ship to shore. Sadly, it became too dark to continue the rescue. Johanne Jørgensen, the captain's pregnant wife, and their 4-year-old son, Carl, drowned while trying to escape. Five other sailors also drowned. The ship's captain, Jørgen M. Jørgensen, was found alive but unconscious on the shore.
Captain Jørgensen and the 9 surviving crew members were taken to Norfolk. They received help from the Norwegian Consul and other groups. Most of those who drowned were buried in Norfolk. One sailor's body washed ashore later and was buried near the Oceanfront.
Shipwrecks were common in this area, known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Many hundreds of ships had been lost here. But the story of the Dictator became a special part of local history. It was remembered in Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach.
The Ship's Figurehead: A Special Memorial
In olden days, many ships had a figurehead. This was a carved wooden figure, often at the front of the ship. People believed it helped ensure a safe journey. After the Dictator broke apart, its wooden female figurehead washed ashore. A young guest found it. The manager of the Princess Anne Hotel then placed it upright near the boardwalk. It became a memorial for those lost in the shipwreck.
People called it the "Norwegian Lady." For over 60 years, it was a famous landmark on Virginia Beach's Boardwalk. The town grew into a small city during this time.
Over the years, the harsh coastal weather damaged the figurehead. In 1953, during Hurricane Barbara, it was badly damaged. It was moved to a city building for safety. A few years later, city officials could not find it. They thought it might have been stolen or accidentally destroyed. Even though figureheads were no longer common on ships, the Norwegian Lady was more than just a ship's decoration. She was a beloved memorial and a symbol for the people of Virginia Beach.
New Statues for Sister Cities
When the story of the lost memorial became known, people in Moss, Norway, also became interested. A plan began in both cities to replace the memorial. With a large donation from the Norwegian Shipping Association, enough money was raised. This allowed for not just one new statue, but two!
A Norwegian sculptor named Ørnulf Bast was chosen. He created two nine-foot tall bronze statues. They looked exactly like the original figurehead. The new Norwegian Lady statues were shown to the public on September 22, 1962. One was given as a gift to Virginia Beach. The other was placed in Moss, Norway. This helped connect the two cities. Each statue seems to face the other across the Atlantic Ocean.
Moss and Virginia Beach officially became "sister cities" in 1974. Every year, on the anniversary of the shipwreck, a group from the Virginia Beach Volunteer Fire Department places a wreath at the statue's base. On October 13, 1995, Queen Sonja of Norway visited the Norwegian Lady statue in Virginia Beach. She also placed memorial flowers there.
The statue in Moss receives similar honors. Officials from Virginia Beach have traveled to Moss to show their respect to the "other" Norwegian Lady.
On the base of the Virginia Beach statue, these words are carved:
I am the Norwegian Lady. I stand here, as my sister before me, to wish all men of the sea safe return home.
- William O. Foss The Norwegian Lady and the Wreck of the Dictator. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Noreg Books, 2002. ISBN: 0-9721989-0-3.
