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A LITTLE PIECE OF AMERICA IN AGDER

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A LITTLE PIECE OF AMERICA IN AGDER

To mark the performance of HEIMANIFRÅ – on high heels in Junaiten, we’ve created the Facebook group “From Agder to America,” where we invite people to share their own photos and emigration stories from Southern Norway. Every now and then, stories pop up that are so good we just have to share them. Like this one about Nostalgilåven—a little piece of America right in the heart of Agder.

In the village of Eiken, just east of Kvinesdal, Nils Oskar Linjord has created a paradise for anyone interested in American memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s. At Nostalgilåven, you’ll find a general store, a gas station, an American diner, and a concert venue.

Linjord’s interest in America began when his grandparents returned from a work assignment in America with new, stylish furniture. In addition, Linjord had an uncle in America who sent packages home every Christmas, much to everyone’s delight.

He has spent his entire life collecting the treasures in the Nostalgia Barn, but after a fire in 2019, he had to start over. Fortunately, he has managed to acquire quite a few antiques in both Norway and the United States to rebuild the barn over the past few years.

Today, the barn also houses a general store featuring exclusively Norwegian items and products from the 1950s and 1960s, to highlight the historical differences between Norwegian and American objects from that era.

Nils Oskar Linjord and his wife Dagny in front of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo: Private)

NORWEGIAN RURAL TRADE

A REAL AMERICAN DINER

The "diner" serves a classic American menu featuring milkshakes, donuts, pizza, and the biggest scoop of ice cream in Inner Agder! And if you stop by during the summer, you might catch the Amcar meetup that gathers at the barn every Tuesday. As many as 120 cars and 60–70 motorcycles have shown up in a single evening, so if you’re interested in American classics, just come on by.

Among the highlights of the experiences at Nostalgilåven, Linfjord singles out a number of concerts that have created unforgettable memories; Jerry Lee Lewis’s sister, Linda Gail Lewis, has visited several times. Rockabilly artist Phil Haley and his band have performed there, and Bjøro Håland is a well-known favorite.

In other words, maybe you should pay a visit to Eiken and Nostalgilåven if you’re looking for a little “trip to America”?