Yesterday, I finally reached the Holy Grail of my quest. No, not "Big Ole", but close. Physically that is. Right across the street.
Ever since I was a kid, Minnesotans have been keen on the Viking heritage attributed to the state, by the discovery of the Kensington Runestone in 1898 by Olof Ohma.
Even in my old university Historical Research class, it was used as an example of historical controversy, and how new facts can sway an argument back and forth. Well, I have always wanted to see the stone, especially after the latest evidence to its authenticity was aired on the History Channel. Yesterday was the day. The museum is actually quite nice, and not quite the tourist trap you might expect. Besides the Runestone, they also had other "Norse" artifacts collected over the years from the region. Unfortunately, none of them had been recovered by bone fide archaeologists. The provenance of all are open to interpretation.
The museum also had some Indian artifacts, local stuffed animals, local historical crap (a Gramma's wedding dress from the turn of the century, type stuff), old telephones, some old military guns & uniforms, and some sample pioneer log buildings outside. I wonder if the cute blonde gal at the counter was chosen to sway visitors torwards the "Viking Heritage"? She could have swayed me.
I know those photos are not the best in the world, but the artifacts were behind glass and I really didn't have my professional grade cameras & lenses. However...
It really helps to have a laptop and internet access on the road. Voila! Google comes through! It turned out there is a 5X replica of the Runestone in a public park in Alexandria, Minnesota! It was just a few blocks away, so...
Ta-daaa! A Viking Runestone for the Visually Impaired! This sucker is HUGE!
Cue "Also sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise)"
I was impressed by it all. It was worth the effort to see the original Kensington Runestone, and a reproduction I could read without my glasses.
By the way, the blonde Salesgirl/Guide managed to get me to pony up some Danegeld for a tiny Runestone reproduction and a replica Viking wrought iron firestarter with flint. The blonde firestarter was not available. :(
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