Entry No. 51 — the Des Moines file — filed under: troll-sculpture

Fjord Færgemand (Dambo Troll)

A 25-foot wooden troll standing in a boat with an oar carved from a downed tree, built from reclaimed materials by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and unveiled in April 2026. It's hidden in the prairie landscape behind the Museum of Danish America.

The move: Find the hidden troll, climb into the boat to pose with it, then duck into the Museum of Danish America to trace the town's immigrant roots.

📍 Before you go Park at the Museum of Danish America and walk three to five minutes into the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park behind it — the route shifts from pavement to uneven mown prairie paths, so skip the dress shoes. The 30-acre recreated tallgrass prairie is open dawn to dusk independent of the museum building, and anyone needing mobility assistance can check in at the museum's front desk. Elk Horn is a short hop north of I-80 exit 54; pair the troll with the town's 1848 Danish windmill on Main Street, the only authentic working Danish windmill in America.

• 📍 Elk Horn
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 2212 Washington St., Elk Horn, IA 51531

Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3

last checked: 2026-06-09