This Memorial commemorates the 1834 settlement at Norway, Illinois—the first permanent Norwegian settlement in the Midwest. A departure point for many Norwegians who settled other parts of the Midwest, Norway became known as the “mother settlement.” The monument, dedicated in 1934, honors the community and its founder, Cleng Peerson (1783-1865). Beginning in 1825, Peerson helped many Norwegians immigrate to the United States. The Memorial is one of five commemorative markers in front of the small Cleng Peerson Memorial Cemetery.