This “Viking City” Boasts Mountain Views, Norwegian Murals & Scandinavian Pastries Right in Washington

Poulsbo, Washington

Back in 1883, a guy named Jorgen Eliason rowed his boat into what was then called Dog Fish Bay and fell in love.

The snow-topped Olympic Mountains and the bay’s deep blue waters looked just like the fjords back in his Norway home. Soon, more Norwegians joined him, bringing their food, style, and even their native language with them.

For years, you’d hear more Norwegian than English on the streets until World War II mixed things up. Now you can stroll past Viking murals, grab fresh pastries, and feel like you’ve found a bit of Scandinavia hiding in Washington state.

The Maple Grove That Became a Town

Long before Europeans arrived, the Suquamish people already had a name for where Poulsbo now stands. They called it “Tcutcu Lats” or “č̓uʔč̓uɬac,” which translates to “maple grove.”

Their connection to this area goes back at least 5,000 years, with village sites all along Liberty Bay’s shoreline. Near the head of Liberty Bay, they maintained a winter village called “ho-CHEEB” or “Xoyacid.”

This settlement had two large houses and four smaller ones that remained until the late 1800s when European settlement began to intensify.

The Homesick Settler Who Started It All

The first European to settle in what would become Poulsbo was a Norwegian named Ole Stubb, who arrived in 1875. He had originally tried settling in South Dakota but kept moving west because he wanted to find somewhere that reminded him of home.

Later, when Jorgen Eliason traveled by boat from Seattle looking for Stubb, he and his friend Peter Olson liked what they saw so much that they decided to stay too.

The protected waters of Liberty Bay combined with views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains looked remarkably similar to the fjords they’d left behind in Norway. This resemblance triggered a wave of Scandinavian immigration that shaped the town’s character for generations.

The Bay That Got Named After Fish

Before it became the prettier-sounding Liberty Bay, locals called Poulsbo’s waterfront “Dog Fish Bay” because of all the dogfish swimming around in there during the 1860s.

The Language Shift

You might have heard English everywhere if you visited Poulsbo today, but that wasn’t always the case. Until World War II, you’d have heard Norwegian spoken all around town as the main language.

Things changed when the military built about 300 homes for workers from the naval shipyard in nearby Bremerton.

The town’s population suddenly tripled in just three years, and English took over. Even with the language shift, you can still see Norwegian culture everywhere you look.

Many businesses showcase traditional rosemaling (that fancy Norwegian decorative painting), and when you walk downtown, you’ll notice street signs that show both English and Norwegian names.

Two Norwegian Kings Visited This Small American Town

Poulsbo has welcomed Norwegian royalty more than once. King Olav V came to town on October 22, 1975, as part of celebrating 150 years of Norwegian immigration to the United States. Following family tradition, his son King Harald V made his own visit 20 years later.

How a Big Fire Created Little Norway

The summer of 1914 was particularly dry in Poulsbo, with several brush fires causing concern. Then on September 15, disaster struck when a major fire tore through downtown, destroying most of the business district.

This catastrophe completely changed how the town looked. When they rebuilt, they made the streets wider and constructed buildings using more brick and other materials that wouldn’t burn so easily.

During reconstruction, local merchants added Scandinavian design touches like peaked roofs and detailed woodwork. These changes created the distinctive “Little Norway” look that makes Poulsbo so recognizable today.

The Small Town Bakery That Sold Bread Around the World

There’s a special bread that put Poulsbo on the map for people who might never have heard of this small town otherwise.

“Poulsbo Bread” from Sluys Bakery became so popular that it was sold internationally. This sweet, dark bread with Scandinavian roots became the town’s signature product.

Sluys Bakery opened in 1966 and continues to be an important part of downtown Poulsbo today. When you visit, you should try their “Viking Doughnuts” too.

These oversized treats reflect the town’s Nordic heritage. Another local favorite is their almond-flavored Fyrstekake (Norwegian royal cake) made using traditional recipes passed down through generations.

Three Different Museums Tell One Town Story

For a town of its size, Poulsbo has an unusual number of museums. You’ll find three distinct ones here: the Maritime Museum on Front Street, the Heritage Museum at City Hall, and the Martinson Cabin on Viking Way. Each one shows you a different part of local history.

At the Maritime Museum, you can learn all about the fishing industry and how people used to get around by boat.

The Heritage Museum focuses more on immigrant life, with old furniture and photographs showing how people lived back then. For the most authentic experience, visit the Martinson Cabin.

This preserved pioneer home lets you see what daily life was like for early settlers, complete with original tools and household items from the 1890s.

The Viking Cup

When you stop by Sluys’ Bakery in downtown Poulsbo, ask for something called a “Viking Cup.” It’s basically the inside part of a cinnamon roll filled with cream cheese icing.

The bakery also offers more traditional Scandinavian pastries you might not find elsewhere. Try the krumkake (thin rolled cookies), rosettes (delicate fried pastries), or Danish aebleskiver (round pancake balls).

If you happen to visit during December’s Julefest celebration, the local bakeries make special holiday treats. Look for pepperkaker (spiced gingerbread cookies) and lefse (potato flatbread) that connect back to the town’s Nordic roots.

Visiting Poulsbo, Washington

Getting to Poulsbo is easy. Located in Washington State just west of Seattle, you can drive there via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge or take a ferry from Seattle or Edmonds. Boat and seaplane access are options.

For the most scenic approach, catch the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry and then drive about 15 minutes. This route gives you amazing views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

The town itself isn’t very big, just about 4.5 square miles, with most attractions concentrated along Liberty Bay’s shorefront.