Historical Oslo – Norsk Folkemuseum / Open-Air Museum and Viking Ship Museum

Norsk Folkemuseum Open-Air Museum

The Norsk Folkemuseum is most definitely well worth a visit while in Oslo and Norway in general. It is a bit offsite from the main city centre but it is worth the trek either via as part of a tour, via public transport, car, bike, and so on. This area even has some grazing fields where I spotted sheep and horses.

The Sámi people

One of the exhibitions, and mentioned in some of the houses, is of the Sámi people. The Sámi people are a Finno-Ugric people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses large parts of Norway and Sweden, northern parts of Finland, and the Murmansk Oblast of Russia. There are still groups today, also speaking the language, but their existence were challenged due to Norwegianization attempts by the government some time ago.

Life in a 1800s farm

In the summer, visitors can see some activity going on around a 1800s farm.

For your amusement, a video I took this afternoon of a group of Smålens Geese aka Norwegian Spotted Geese waddling along with their caretakers at Bjørnstad, a large farm from Vågå, #Norway from the 1700’s.

According to their website, the Norsk Folkemuseum is located at Bygdøy in Oslo and has an Open-Air Museum with 160 historic buildings. The museum focuses on the time period from 1500 until present time, and in-door exhibits feature Norwegian folk costumes, folk art, church art and Sami culture. Temporary exhibits, audience programs and activities for children all year.

Norsk Folkemuseum Buildings

Unfortunately there was too much detail involved with the buildings and the history so I only have photos to offer. I would recommend looking their website to read more on the details.

Finnmark 1950s building

Viking Ship Museum

About a few minutes walk from from Maihaugen is the Viking Ship Museum which is composed of a few actual Viking ships which were discovered as burial ships as well as accompanying relics.

Luckily on offer were full-sized ships that have been restored. So much so that you can really smell the wood and finishings. Unfortunately, other items were already plundered at the time of discovery but they managed to get some bits and pieces – a piece of cloth here, in one case only the nails left.

One of the practical/ceremonial sleighs found in the Gokstad viking ship as part of items that were included in a burial.
The Oseberg viking ship. The Oseberg ship was built in southwestern Norway around the year 820, and is made of oak.
The Oseberg viking ship.
The Gokstad ship was built around 890 AD, at the height of the Viking period.  Around approximately 900 AD, a rich and powerful man died, and the Gokstad ship was used for his burial.
The Gokstad viking ship and person for scale.