The National Nordic Museum is a surprising place. The building design itself is a showpiece of modern Scandinavian aesthetic, and the contents are a pristine, thoughtful mixed-media array of contemporary and historical collections. I knew of a labyrinth outside the museum that was relatively new - created in 2020 - but was not planning on venturing inside. I'm glad I did. The Seattle area museum focuses on the Nordic region, naturally, and is spread out enough to give a good sense as to why so many people from that part of the world came to America, specifically the Pacific Northwest.
As for the labyrinth, it's on the water-oriented side of the museum, on what's called the Fisherman's Sun Terrace. Its wavy lines definitely connote the aquatic connection, evoking the jagged shorelines found across the world.
As a plaque explains, the labyrinth was modeled after a carving found on a boulder in Ireland, at a spot that connects to the Vikings, some 1,000 years ago. It's a seven-ring pattern that is worth a visit. As is the museum.
