Towards the end of the 19th century, immigrants from Scandinavian and Nordic countries, including Iceland, were making their way to present-day North Dakota, many by way of Canada. The Icelandic settlement grew rapidly. In 1879, there were only five Icelandic people in Dakota. Within 10 years, the population surged, creating the largest Icelandic settlement in America right here in Pembina County. This boom is largely credited to Pastor Pall Thorlaksson, who would later become known as the father of Icelandic settlement in North Dakota.

It began in 1878 when Pastor Thorlaksson set out from Manitoba with the purpose of finding a new location for an Icelandic settlement. He boarded a steamboat and chugged to Winnipeg and then Dakota in search of land in Pembina County. Johann Petur Hallson along with his son Gunnar, traveled with Thorlaksson. They built the first Icelandic home in the new settlement. While the main hamlet was in Pembina County, Icelanders also settled along the western edge of Cavalier County and to the south in Walsh County.

While many folks believe the Deuce of August honors Icelandic independence from Denmark, that is not the case. Instead it was on August 2, 1974, when the new constitution was presented to Iceland by King Christian the IX of Denmark. The King asked all the churches in the country to hold services on August 2nd, a tradition that eventually spread to North America, including Winnipeg and Pembina County.

Today, the annual Deuce of August celebration, which has been held for 125 years,is the largest Icelandic festival in the country, with people traveling from across the United States, Canada, and Iceland to honor their heritage. One of the most popular attractions is the Genealogy Center, staffed by genealogists who are there to help you dig deeper into your family ties. Other activities include band concerts, street dances, car shows, and a parade. Visitors also have the opportunity to purchase Icelandic souvenirs to commemorate their time at the festival. The town of Mountain, North Dakota, with a population of about 100 people, plays host to the thousands who flock here every year in what the North Dakota Tourism Department confirms is the oldest ethnic festival in the state. The August de Deuce celebration is also the largest Icelandic ethnic event in the United States.