King Harald V of Norway is coming to the Puget Sound area, where he will dedicate a mural at a Ballard Park on May 22 and give the commencement address at Pacific Lutheran University on May 23.
In his first visit to the Seattle area in 20 years, Norway’s King Harald V will help dedicate a mural at a Ballard park and deliver the commencement address at Tacoma’s Pacific Lutheran University.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will welcome the king at 4:15 p.m. May 22 at Bergen Place, 5420 22nd Ave N.W.
The mural being celebrated will have a familiar look. It’s the updated version of a 52-foot-long mural placed there on the occasion of King Harald’s last visit, in 1995.
The new mural consists of 13 graffiti-resistant panels, each 12 feet fall and 4 feet wide.
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Bergen Place also has an engraved stone marker commemorating the park’s 1975 dedication by King Olav V, father of the present king.
King Harald’s private events in Seattle will include a reception at Ballard’s Pacific Fishermen Shipyard, founded in the 1940s by fishermen of Norwegian heritage, and a business conference on tourism.
On May 23, the public is welcome to greet the king on his 11:15 a.m. arrival at Pacific Lutheran University.
He will deliver PLU’s commencement address in Tacoma Dome ceremonies beginning at 2:30 p.m., which is also open to the public.
The king is being awarded an honorary doctor of law degree by PLU, which was founded by Norwegian immigrants 125 years ago.