Rob has been busy planning The Grand Tour for at least a year. The term Grand Tour refers to a tradition that dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when it became very fashionable for the young (and in this case, old) to complete their education by experiencing new sights, cultures and people and to learn about the world in a hands-on way rather than in school or in books (and today television and the internet).
The Grand Tour encouraged travel to France, Italy or Greece to see these things for themselves, to view the original paintings, and to walk around famous buildings they had only seen images of in books before.
Well, that sounds about right. Rob wanted to spend an extended summer in Europe. Rob’s driving force for travel is to experience ADVENTURE and gain PERSPECTIVE. So I suggested that we call it The Grand Tour!! I’m in!!! Let’s Go!!!
Sister Sister City
As Rob was planning the trip, he expressed an interest in going to Norway. Moss, Norway, is a sister city to Virginia Beach. How did that happen?
Virginia Beach and Moss, Norway have a very unique history dating back to March 27, 1891 when the Norwegian Bark, Dictator, built in Moss and bound from Pensacola, Florida, to England, was shipwrecked off the coast of Cape Henry, north of the Seatack Lifesaving Station. The Dictator’s Captain, Jordan Jorgesen, had his wife and son aboard ship. Four crewmen were the first to reach shore in a small boat. Several other crewmen were hauled ashore before the ship broke apart taking Captain Jorgesen’s pregnant wife and four year old son. Captain Jorgesen made it to shore by hanging onto a piece of the wreckage. After both his wife’s and son’s bodies were recovered, they were buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
The wooden figurehead of the Dictator washed ashore and was erected at Sixteenth Street until 1953 when it was in disrepair from a hurricane removed.
In 1961 the decision was made in Moss, Norway, to raise the funds for an exact bronze replica to be erected in Virginia Beach with an identical one in Moss. One of Norway’s leading sculptors, Ornulf Bast, was commissioned to sculpt the “Norwegian Lady”. The citizens of Moss were so generous, they raised more than 50,000 Norwegian Kroner for the two statues.
The Norwegian Lady statue was dedicated in Virginia Beach AND in Moss, Norway in 1962, thus forging a bond between the two cities. Both Norwegian Ladies look out to the ocean. The one in Virginia Beach looks toward Moss and the one in Moss looks toward Virginia Beach. On May 11, 1974, Moss, Norway and Virginia Beach, Virginia became sister cities.
Today is the annual commemoration of the shipwreck and rescue of the Dictator off the coast of Virginia Beach in 1891. This event takes place at The Norwegian Lady statue on the boardwalk at 25th Street.
Norway’s Kings Guard was in town for the Virginia Tattoo so the organizers of the event were able to have them participate with precision marches and impressive music along the boardwalk. You don’t see that every day!! What a sendoff for our Grand Tour.
In the summers the City of Virginia Beach sponsors a dramatic retelling of the events at the statue’s location that have you on the edge of your seat.
On the pedestal of the Virginia Beach statue, these words are inscribed: I am the Norwegian Lady. I stand here, as my sister before me, to wish all men of the sea safe return home.
We look forward to visiting her sister in Moss later this summer.
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