The national park would also serve as a place for American Danes to return and always feel at home, whether meeting with relatives still in Denmark or celebrating the American dream with like-minded friends.

In 1912, they donated the land to Danish king Christian X, who in turn established Rebild Bakker (Rebild National Park) as a natural retreat for all Danes to enjoy.Įvery year, Henius insisted, the park must hold a festival celebrating American Independence Day as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. It was this group of newly minted Americans, led by Henius, that bought a 200-acre parcel of land in northern Denmark in 1911 as a place of homecoming for all Danish-Americans. While returning to Denmark for these emigrants was a rare, expensive and time-consuming journey, taking several weeks by ship, those who found their fortunes abroad were particularly motivated to return and recognise both the importance of their heritage and the opportunities that the US had afforded them. One of those emigrants was Max Henius, a biochemist who set up shop in Chicago and went on to found the successful American Brewing Academy, teaching the art of European-style fermentation to pre-Prohibition–era brewmasters. “They were so far away back then that it meant more when they came back to Denmark, and they loved America so much because America gave them the opportunity that they didn’t get at home.”

They came to America and some of them took that freedom and opportunity and made something of themselves, and they were really proud and they were grateful to America,” said Niels Voigt Guldbjerg, president of the Danish American Club in Denmark, who lived in the US for 32 years. “Many of them left Denmark when times were hard.

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