In 1939 the Crown Prince Olav and Queen Marthe visited the United States. They stopped in Stanwood to place a wreath at the memorial for their Norwegian emigrant who came to the United States.

Taftezon Memorial and Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Snohomish County – 1849

Zacharias Martin Taftezon and his family came from Trondelag, Troms and Finnmark area of northern Norway.  After learning the shoemaking trade in Germany and returning to Norway to find life not to his liking, he traveled via England to New Orleans and then on to the Pacific Coast in search of a better life.  He sailed up to Whidbey Island and landed in what is now Oak Harbor with two other men in December 1849 or January 1850.  It was paradise to him.  He adapted well to life here and was a friend to many.  He liked it so well that many in his family came to join him.

For more information on his amazing journey,

see the Historylink.org article

and check out the other stories and sites on the 2020 Stanwood Camano Historic Sites Tour.
The Memorial is not officially on the tour, but it is place to go if you are interested.
There is also a walking tour in Oak Harbor waterfront that includes a little of his history there.