NORWEGIAN ROYAL VISIT

King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway are making an eight-day visit to Minnesota and Iowa, their first visit trip here since 1995. Here are some highlights:

Tuesday, Oct. 11: Amid a formal greeting from Gov. Mark Dayton, former Vice President Walter Mondale and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, their majesties arrive and head to their hotel in St. Paul.

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Rest day.

Thursday, Oct. 13: They fly to Decorah, Iowa, to mark the 150th anniversary of Luther College, the first college established by Norwegian immigrants in the nation, and tour the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum.

Friday, Oct. 14: Visit a Norwegian language class at St. Olaf College in Northfield and make a non-health-related visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, where a Norwegian doctor exchange program has been ongoing.

Saturday, Oct. 15: Rest day.

Sunday, Oct. 16: Attend church service at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, their third Norwegian-founded college stop, then head to the governor's residence on Summit Avenue for a reception, followed by a royal dinner with more than 1,000 guests at the Minneapolis Hilton.

Monday, Oct. 17: To mark a 39-year training exchange, their majesties will meet with Minnesota National Guard brass and fly with the Guard to Duluth to visit Norway Hall downtown and rededicate Enger Tower, originally dedicated in 1939 by the king's father, then-Crown Prince Olav.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Before flying to New York for a meeting, their majesties will unveil an exhibit at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport noting the 100th anniversary of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's South Pole trek. They'll be joined by Minnesota explorers Ann Bancroft, Will Steger and their Norwegian partner Liv Arnesen.