The Norwegian Club

Prior to 1897, Norwegians immigrating to San Francisco gathered in different societies. Many were unable to speak English and had little money to sustain their living expenses. Most were laborers or came from farms in rural Norway and learned of America by word of mouth. In 1897, when the Explorer Fridjof Nansen (pictured above) was rumored to be coming to San Francisco, a gathering of men, 13 in all, formulated plans for a reception in his honor. The group adopted the name Den Norsk Klub Fram. 'Fram' was the name of the ship (pictured below) that carried Nansen on his attempt to reach the North Pole by drifting with the currents and ice packs across the North Polar Basin. Although his lecture trip to San Francisco was canceled, the group convened and continued to meet twice each month with membership eventually growing to approximately 100 members.