For nearly 20 years, Esther Jacobsen Bates has served as Solvang’s unofficial ambassador and holder of Danish culture and history.

She has interacted with Danish royalty, built friendships with Danish Embassy staff, diplomatically suggested a city marketing campaign to attract tourism shouldn’t take a tone  appearing to compete with Denmark, and carefully chronicled the community’s history. 

At the end of June, she retired as executive director for the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, leading the City Council to recognize her role by declaring July 10 as Esther Jacobsen Bates Day in Solvang.

“I will always be a champion for the museum, our community, for the history and culture,” she said during this week’s night’s council meeting.

She added that she will continue to serve on the city’s Design Review Committee and the General Plan Advisory Committee.”

In addition to coordinating the city’s centennial celebration in 2011, she played a key role in organizing visits by Danish royals and ambassadors, according to Brad Vidro, retired city manager.

Elverhoj art exhibits also ended up being well-received by the tourist industry, Vidro added.

“She was a great asset for the Elverhoj,” he said. “She was a great steward for the museum.”

The city once owned the historic Brandt-Erichson house that now serves as Elverhoj’s home.

“It was just a good positive working relationship between Esther and myself,” Vidro said.

She served as the fourth leader for the museum that was founded 35 years ago, leading it through significant growth. 

“I feel really proud of where everything is as I exit,” she told Noozhawk, ticking off renovated grounds, financial stability with rising numbers of visitors, interior makeover, and more. 

“Our numbers far exceed pre-COVID numbers,” she said. 

Tucked in a neighborhood rather than sitting in the downtown area, the museum at 1624 Elverhoy Way hosts almost 30,000 visitors a year.

“When people come down here, they’re not stumbling across the museum. They’re making a specific effort to be here, and it tends to be the best group of visitors. They’re genuinely interested,” she added.

Before being hired to run Elverhoj, she worked for Arts Outreach and volunteered at the Elverhoj Museum.

“It’s a perfect fit of my interests and background and the museum’s mission and needs,” Jacobsen Bates said. 

Her replacement at Elverhoj, Sandie Mullin, also has worked at Arts Outreach.

Art and history have been Jacobsen Bates’ favorite pursuits, and as the daughter of a man who immigrated from Denmark, she was familiar with the Danish heritage and language.

“I never would have guessed that my career would benefit from that,” the 1974 Santa Ynez Valley Union High School graduate said of the language she understands, but doesn’t speak well. 

One of her first tasks as director involved expanding public awareness about the museum, helping explain the name Elverhoj (pronounced El-ver-hoy).

With co-author Ann Dittmer, Jacobsen Bates captured the Danish community’s story in a book titled “The Spirit of Solvang.”

“This history, along with the museum’s exhibits and events, have preserved the Danish culture, and helped make Solvang a popular tourist destination,” Mayor Mark Infanti read from the city proclamation recognizing Jacobsen Bates. 

She also focused on making spaces friendly for self-guided tours, and making it more informative while fostering development of the museum many missions. 

“It’s kind of a tripod of a mission here that sustains the museum — it’s the history, the Danish culture, and the art. Putting those three elements together has been really a great thing for making the museum financially stable,” she said. 

Visitors arrive to find out about Solvang’s history, and they quickly learn about some aspect of art, she said. Likewise art lovers visit an exhibit and learn about the Danish community’s roots. 

“It’s benefitted both ways I think,” she said. 

Art exhibits featured local, national and international artists, including many well-known names such as Rembrandt.

Currently, the museum is hosting “Music is Love”  featuring the work of legendary rock photographer and 2023 Grammy winner Henry Diltz. The exhibit also salutes the late David Crosby, who lived in the Santa Ynez Valley. 

The most rewarding part of the job, Jacobsen Bates said, has been working with a variety of people, including the organization’s volunteers, artists, museum colleagues and Danish embassy staff.

There also have been cultural exchanges with Danish boys’ choirs, gymnasts, girls’ choirs, musicians and educators.

“It’s just been amazing at the places I’ve been able to go and the people I’ve met. I feel really truly privileged,” she added.