Moving a windmill is no easy feat. It took the small community of Elk Horn over 300 volunteers and $100,000 to move our windmill from Nørre Snede, DK and rebuild it. Harvey Sornson and the other builders considered the project a privilege. They believed that having an authentic Danish windmill would give the community the missing piece of what it took to be a rural Danish community, and they wanted the windmill to become a monument to the cultural heritage of their Danish ancestors who immigrated here. 

To do so, the Danish Mill Corporation was founded in 1975, and officially recognized as a 501(c)3 organization by the IRS in 1982. 

The Danish Windmill serves to bridge the past and present, providing a living history experience that exemplifies how Danish-American cultural heritage, Scandinavian traditions, and the innovations in renewable energy can build a better tomorrow through preservation, education, and celebration.

Our vision is of vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities in the United States and abroad contributing to an equitable, prosperous, and stable society where history is valued and future generations are empowered to take on new challenges. 

Our mission is guided and informed by our commitment to:
Inclusiveness – we respect people, embrace diversity, and are committed to equity
Community – we value and recognize the value of reciprocity and the power of civic involvement, including the contribution of volunteers
Hospitality – we strive for an accessible, warm, and inclusive atmosphere consistent with the Danish virtue, hygge
Heritage – we stand by our commitment to celebrate and preserve Scandinavian customs and traditions
Education – we believe in the power of history education to preserve tradition and embrace change
Innovation – we aspire to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and inspiration for future generations