Eldheimar
Volcano museum in Vestmannaeyjar about the 1973 Heimaey eruption, with an excavated house and the story of Surtsey.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Eldheimar is a volcano museum in Vestmannaeyjar about the eruption on Heimaey that began in the night of 23 January 1973. The eruption lasted just over five months and destroyed nearly 400 houses and buildings, about a third of the settlement. Most of the island's residents, around 5,300 people, fled to the mainland, and many never saw their homes and belongings again.
At the heart of the museum is the house that stood at Gerðisbraut 10 and was buried under ash in the eruption. It has been excavated and shows in a powerful way the impact the disaster had on people's homes. The exhibition also describes life and the environment in Vestmannaeyjar before the eruption and how events disrupted the community.
It also covers Surtsey, the island that rose from the sea south of Heimaey in 1963. The eruption on Surtsey lasted just under four years, after which the island was made a nature reserve where scientists observe how new life takes hold. Surtsey has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008.
Highlights
- Excavated house at Gerðisbraut 10, buried in ash during the 1973 eruption
- The account of how more than 5,000 residents fled Heimaey in a single night
- Coverage of the origin and development of Surtsey
- Eldfell, the new mountain that rose during the eruption, nearby
Permanent exhibitions
- Gosminjasýning um Heimaeyjargosið 1973 – The exhibition traces the eruption on Heimaey, the residents' flight and the rebuilding, and shows the house excavated from the ash at Gerðisbraut 10.
- Surtsey – The formation and development of Surtsey, the island that rose from the sea in 1963 and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | ISK 3,550 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | ISK 1,900free up to age 9 · Ages 10 to 18; children under 10 accompanied by adults enter free. |
| Seniors | ISK 2,900Senior citizens |
| Groups (15+ people) | ISK 2,700 per personGroups of 15 or more |
| Families | ISK 7,200Family ticket |
Prices according to the museum's price list: full price ISK 3,550, family ticket ISK 7,200, senior citizens ISK 2,900, ages 10 to 18 ISK 1,900, groups (15 or more) ISK 2,700.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The museum is on Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar. The ferry Herjólfur sails to the island and is one of the museum's partners.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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