Danish American Heritage Society

The Danish American Heritage Society (DAHS) in Des Moines, IA serves as a comprehensive resource for exploring, documenting, and preserving the rich history and cultural legacy of Danish Americans in North America. Founded in 1977, the organization operates as a dedicated heritage institution that goes beyond traditional historical documentation to encompass the full spectrum of the Danish-American experience—past, present, and future.

DAHS provides multiple avenues for engagement and scholarly contribution. The organization publishes The Bridge, a prestigious semi-annual journal featuring scholarly articles, essays, translations, and book reviews that examine diverse aspects of Danish heritage and Danish-American topics. The society administers the Bodtker Grant program, designed to support creative and scholarly research into various dimensions of Danish heritage and the Danish-American experience. Recipients of these grants contribute their findings back to the community through publication in The Bridge.

Working collaboratively with sister organizations including the Danish American Archive and Library, Grand View University, and the Museum of Danish America, DAHS coordinates conferences and joint projects that strengthen cultural preservation efforts. The organization maintains an all-volunteer structure, ensuring that membership dues and contributions directly support its core services and programming. Whether through journal subscriptions, grant opportunities, conference participation, or membership, the Danish American Heritage Society in Des Moines offers meaningful ways to connect with and contribute to the preservation of Danish-American heritage.