Far from the deep, fiery green Atlantic began a dream. Robert Asp, son of Norwegian settlers, longed to learn more about his ancient Viking ancestors. Asp, a Moorhead school guidance counselor, living far from the ocean’s prodding arms, tried to feed his longing with books on Viking ships and the passionate waters they conquered. These stories, however, were not enough for Asp. In 1972, he began to build a ship modeled after the Gokstad, a Viking ship from around A.D. 800. The ship in which Asp planned to visit Norway was fittingly named the Hjemkomst—Norwegian for “homecoming.” After eight years and 100 oak trees, Asp’s determination paid off. In August 1980, Asp sailed the Hjemkomst for the first time on Lake Superior. In December of that year Asp died of leukemia. His dreams did not die.
     Instead, the spirit of Robert Asp inspired a ship crew, a poet and a community.

They were businessmen, construction workers, sailors, students and Asp’s children. Although their lives were different, together they would accomplish a dream they all shared.
     In May 1982, the voyage began on the Great Lakes in Duluth. The crew held strong through the cold and rough waters of Lake Superior and sailed in Lake Huron near record time. The Hjemkomst traveled through the Erie Canal to Lake Erie, where it encountered two days of thundershowers that saturated the crew, yet spirits were high when on June 8 they reached New York City. There, the crew said goodbye to American soil and pushed forward to the deep Atlantic. Just 500 miles out of New York port, the crew encountered a tropical storm. The powerful waters beat a crack into the ship, but the crew made repairs and continued on. For the next few weeks the crew relaxed on the Atlantic by writing journals, playing music and enjoying the cool waters, and sometimes swimming with the dolphins.
     Emotions ran high when the Hjemkomst reached Norway. Friends, family and residents of Bergen, Norway, gave the crew a hero’s welcome on July 19, 1982 as they touched ground for the first time in weeks. Asp had led them home.

    Fawbush’s lyrics lead listeners from “the land of crying loon” to the ocean filled with waves and storms. Fawbush said the lyrics relate to the early Viking ancestors.
     “The song lyrics follow Nordic mythology, such as the land of midnight sun, which is Norway,” said Fawbush.
     Other phrases that capture the Vikings' mythologies are “the rainbow road” which describes Nordic heaven and “Valkyries light.”
     “Valkyries were messengers to the humans,” said Fawbush. “They were sent to help lead the way.”
     The original music, composed by Jeff Fawbush, compliments his brother’s lyrics with the powerful call of a trumpet and exuberant strings of a guitar. The song has a longing and an inspirational tone reminiscent of its muse, Robert Asp.

     “The cities of Moorhead, Hawley and Duluth all wanted to house the Hjemkomst,” said Woodward.
     It was Moorhead that won the opportunity by achieving the $4.5 million campaign.
     “It was a combined effort,” said Woodward. “The Asp family and Red River Valley Heritage Center teamed with Chairmen Bob and Jim Stenerson.”
     In 1986, all the planning and fund raising paid off. The HHIC was built around the Viking ship that started it all. For the Fargo-Moorhead community, this was the perfect outlet to explore the Red River Valley’s culture and history.
     “The Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center is a cultural bridge for the dissemination of the humanities, cultural arts, Red River Valley history and sciences as elements of these influences shape this region,” said Rachel Asleson, director of Exhibits and Education at HHIC.
     Robert Asp dreamed of his Viking voyage on the Hjemkomst 20 years ago, but his dream lives on as an inspiration for the entire Fargo-Moorhead community.