Society history

The story behind the Rebild Hills
The idea to use a piece of Danish moorland landscape as a gathering place for Danish Americans to meet each year with family, friends, and acquaintances in their own country originated with Max Henius. Both in joy, happiness and also a little melancholy they would remember the many who, due to circumstances in their own country, where forced to build a future "over there".

These emigrant rallies, as they were referred to, later came to be known as the Rebild Celebrations. Max Henius had no doubt - it was only fitting that they be held on the American Independence Day, beginning with July 4, 1912.

Danish-Americans funded the purchase of the 190.82 acres of land by collecting donations across the US. This enabled them to present the national park to the Danish government. The park was always to be open to the public, with Danish-born Americans being permitted to celebrate July 4 and other American days of remembrance there. Last, but not least, the park was to remain in its natural state - understood as moorland landscape.

Rebild committee members presented King Christian X with the deed to the Danish American National Park, as it was then known.

The first Rebild Celebration
Due to a period of national mourning upon King Fredrik VIII' s sudden death on May 14, 1912, the first Rebild Celebrations were delayed until August 5. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people joined together in the Hills where they, among other things, cheered King Christian X. During the program speeches were held, a tradition, which is still maintained today. Anyone who participated in the first Rebild Celebrations remembers it for three things. For the rain, that came down in buckets, for the many black umbrellas that made it difficult to see another person and, of course, the new king.

Even though the first Rebild Celebration was a rain-filled gathering, the Rebild Celebrations continue, year after year, to be a tradition in which many people take part.