Continuing an eventful season for the International Peace Gardens, the bronze statue of the Little Mermaid is poised to  resume  her emblematic position in the Danish Section at the August festival. The statue is a replacement from the 1950’s of an official copy of the iconic Langelanie in Copenhagen Harbour. The International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake had the distinction of being the third place to receive a copy with permission from the Danish King and the sculptor, Edvard Eriksen.  

First reported missing March February 26th, she was found  a month later beneath some nearby  bushes. Luckily, she had suffered only minor damage_. The following articles detail the saga of her disappearance and return to the Peace Gardens.

     It is thought likely that the quick action taken by Fred Fife in raising money for a reward is what saved our  mermaid from dissolving into the seafoam as in the original story of Hans Christian Anderson. It is believed that the attention focused on the theft by Mr. Fife very likely frightened the criminal into returning the statue. Please click to read Mr. Fife’s narrative:

At the time of writing 832 dollars in pledge money raised by Fife from the concerned public has now gone to the restoration and remounting of the statue on a five thousand pound granite boulder. Another 393 dollars is needed to pay half of the expense of the total restoration cost of 2,450 dollars as per an agreement with the Arts Council. To contribute to this cause mail a check payable to

Fred Fife

or to make a contribution with debit or credit card click

All donations will be given to Fife for the restoration; extra monies will be given to the Danish Garden Committee.

You can also show your support by forwarding this email to interested friends and by attending the rededication ceremony currently scheduled for 11:00AM August 21st , 2010 at the Danish Section of the International  Peace Gardens, Jordan Park.

2010 Summer Events

 The annual Norwegian Constitution Day Observance again took place May 17th

  and the Swedish Midsomer Festival on June 7th this year.

The Utah Chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League will be hosting their annual picnic for the students from our Sister City, Matsumoto Japan July 24th. The relationship celebrated fifty years of friendship last year and has won the international award for best  sister city pair three times. Gifts from Matsumoto are on display at the City /County building and the students will wave from the trolley car in the Days of '47 parade on the twenty-fourth. To help replace stolen cherry trees given to the Peace Gardens by Matsumoto, click