The Historical Museum

The largest collection of items from pre-historic times and the Middle Ages found in Norway.

What did the people of the past think, believe and know? How did they arrange their lives, their belongings and their knowledge? At the Historical Museum you can experience some of the most exquisite objects from the Norwegian Viking Age, such as ornate swords, gold jewellery and a very rare Viking helmet. See an extensive collection of religious artefacts from the Middle Ages. Learn about the people during the Norwegian Stone Age, explore the Egyptian mummies and gain insight into diverse cultures from across the world through our ethnographic exhibitions. The Historical museum is a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture, and the rich embellishments have a unique mix of Norwegian and international elements.

Exhibitions:

VíKINGR: Some of the most exquisite artefacts that have been found from the Norwegian Viking Age

Fabulous Animals – from the Iron Age to the Vikings: Jewellery and weapons decorated with Scandinavian animal ornamentation.

Emotions in Antiquity and Ancient Egypt: Get in touch with thousand year old emotions face to face with sculptures and sarcophagi.

Transformation – Faith and Sacred Objects in the Middle Ages: Rare artefacts from Norwegian stave churches

Collapse – Human Being in an Unpredictable World: An exhibition showing how forces of nature can cause both collapse and new development in cultures.

Control – Attempting to tame the world: Stories of how humans and animals co-exist.

Heritage: (Opening Autumn 2022) 

The Arctic - Populations of the Arctic and Subarctic: Artefacts from indigenous groups throughout the Arctic.

Good as Gold - Coins are History: Norway's largest coin collection.

Egypt in Europe: Norway's oldest and largest collection of Egyptian artefacts.

America – Present – Past - Identity: About the identity of indigenous peoples and minorities when encountering the wider world. 

Visit Historical Museum's website for temporary exhibitions and changes in the program.

Longer opening hours on Thursdays
Free entry on the last Saturday of the month.

Norwegian name: Historisk museum