Living History: Visiting the Draken Harald Hårfagre

Today I had the privilege, and honor, of getting to visit and set foot upon the Draken Harald Hårfagre; a Viking Longship built using the tools, techniques, and materials that would have been available in the time period, while still containing enough modern items to meet our present regulations for health and safety. This ship is one that was thought to have never sailed across the ocean before, but the folks who sailed her to the North American continent from Norway have made history and proven that thought to be incorrect. They have opened up an entire new school of thought on where the Vikings could have gone, and how, and it was so amazing to be able to witness such history in person.

Naturally, being that we are a Viking re-enactment group, we went to see her in full garb. Other visitors thought we came with the ship, and although we wish we had, we had to inform them that we were simply visitors ourselves but it’s a time period we try to immerse ourselves in as we can. If anything though, I’m sure it gave many people who were there an even larger spark of interest in this history, and perhaps now that they know our presence [as re-enactors] exists, they will seek out more information and local events (or push for them) so that the audience and interest grows even more.

As I was the one with the camera though, there are no photos of myself beyond the selfie from the very beginning (unless I manage to find some of the one’s from the various strangers that asked to take our photo). I went with Peter and Scott, the only other two from our group who were able to make it today. Thankfully, for the rest of the members, there are still a couple of chances to go see her, so they’re not out of luck yet! You will see both Peter and Scott in a couple of photos, as they were not the photographer. 😉

This Viking Longship is 115ft long, and when the mast is up she rises 78ft into the air. That’s an impressive profile! Sadly, because there are so many low bridges along the NY Canal System, the mast and figurehead had to be taken down. I am hoping that I will be able to see her with them both present again as they leave the canal system, but we shall see.

As I said before, she sailed across the Atlantic, the travel taking about three months, until she finally landed in Canada. Along her way across the Atlantic she stopped at Iceland, Greenland, and various other places. In Canada she entered the St. Lawrence where she sailed down to the Great Lakes to enter the Tall Ships Challenge; and make stops along the way around the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, the US Coast Guard (and essentially our government) were not nearly as kind to her as Canada was, and told her that unless she had a pilot she could not stay in the Great Lakes.

This was all because they decided she was a commercial vessel (from the information that was released to the public), and in reality she is anything but. This beautiful ship is actually a war vessel, and you did not want to see her coming if you were not her home portage back in her era. Pilotage fees are astronomical, but thanks to some public funding they were able to stay in the Great Lakes for a while. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to all their scheduled stops, which was a shame because they had a stop they wanted to badly make where an entire town of strong Scandinavian descent was awaiting their heritage’s arrival. Essentially, out of what I can only view as greed, the US government robbed many people the chance to witness history. An absolute shame. So she left the Great Lakes early, and arrived into the NY Canal System in Oswego, NY. From there she has made it to Little Falls, NY, which is where I saw her today.

The crowd of people ready to view her right at the opening time of 10am was impressive as well, to say the least. So many people turned out to see her, and the excitement levels were through the roof. For $10 you were able to take a tour of the ship, where they spoke about the features of her, the journey across the Atlantic, and how the ships she was built to match played a part in history. Let me tell you what, actually standing on her deck was incredible. Absolutely an experience I am so honored to have had the chance to have.

Seeing all the detail work of the ship was also spectacular. Everywhere you looked there were small things that just made her all the more gorgeous. So much wood carving, and painting, and little touches that brought out her personality to the fullest. Seeing Odin’s ravens as well was wonderful, as they are so culturally appropriate. I cannot say enough about the attention to detail that went into her design and finishing touches. Mere words aren’t enough, you really have to experience her in person, and she will take your breath away.

So after her stop in Little Falls, she will continue her journey down the NY Canal system to Kingston, then NYC, and eventually she’ll make her way all the way to Mystic Seaport, CT, where she will be wintering. They’re making stops all along the way though, so those might not be the only ones they make on their way to wintering, especially since they had to leave the Great Lakes early. It’s wise to keep an eye on her website to see where she’ll be stopping, if you’re interested in going. And if you can, I would think you crazy if you chose not to. We’re going to try and go see her again if at all possible.

For more information on the Draken Harald Hårfagre, you can follow her on Facebook, or visit her website.

And I’m so sorry for those of you who are not even close to her path of travel, because she was such a sight to see.