At the end of the 19th century, Norway sought to establish itself as a distinct nation. As part of this effort, the country participated in the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago with a pavilion inspired by traditional stave churches. The building was designed by architect Waldemar Hansteen and produced by Christian Thams’ company, Strandheim Brug in Orkanger, as a prestigious national project.

The pavilion arrived late to the exhibition and wasn’t completed until June, but it was eventually seen by over 27 million visitors. After the fair, the structure was sold to C.K. Billings and later moved to the Little Norway museum in Wisconsin, where it served as the main attraction from 1936 until the museum closed in 2012.

In 2014, Olav Sigurd Kvaale visited the pavilion in the U.S., inspired by the craftsmanship of his grandfather, who had worked on the original structure. When he learned that a university in Taiwan was considering purchasing it, he launched “Project Heimatt” to bring the building back to Orkdal. The initiative gained strong support from local authorities and businesses.

In 2015, the pavilion was dismantled and shipped to Norway. With the help of around 50 volunteers, it was carefully restored and rebuilt in Orkdal. The grand reopening took place on September 9, 2017 – exactly 150 years after the birth of Christian Thams. The ceremony drew a large crowd and was officially opened by the Norwegian Minister of Culture.

Today, the Thams Pavilion stands as a unique cultural landmark and a proud symbol of Norwegian history, craftsmanship, and community spirit.