The innovative Heritage Lottery Funded Norfolk’s American Connections project, which was delivered by Norfolk County Council Cultural Services, 2nd Air Division Memorial Library, South Norfolk Council, The Garage and community partners between July and December 2012, celebrated Norfolk’s many shared links with North America over 400 years.
The project encouraged people to discover more about fascinating people and places, such as the 17th century Pilgrim Fathers, many of whom emigrated from Norfolk to America, 19th century migration from Norfolk to America, Abraham Lincoln’s family ties to Norfolk, Thomas Paine, the Salem Witch Trials, and the 70th anniversary of the ‘Friendly Invasion’ which saw, at any one time, around 50,000 United States 8th Army Air Force (USAAF) personnel stationed in the county.
This website is a fantastic resource for anyone who’d like to know more about the historical links between Norfolk and North America. You’ll find more information about people and places, as well resources which you can download for free in the ‘Things to Do’ section of the website.
If you know of any connections between Norfolk and North America that are not featured on the site, please let us know! Contact the team at the American Library (formerly the 2nd Air Division USAAF Memorial Library) on americanlibrary@norfolk.gov.uk .
Norfolk's American Connections 