Safnahúsið á Húsavík

About the museum

The Safnahúsið in Húsavík was officially opened on 24 May 1980 and houses the museums of the Menningarmiðstöð Þingeyinga (Cultural Centre of Þingeyjarsýslur). The natural history museum was founded in 1966 and the Myndlistarsafn Þingeyinga (Art Museum of Þingeyjarsýslur) on 1 April 1978, but exhibitions have been held there since 1980. The building also holds maritime relics from the Þingeyjarsýslur and a photo archive.

The main exhibition of the house, “Mannlíf og náttúra – 100 ár í Þingeyjarsýslum” (People and Nature – 100 Years in Þingeyjarsýslur), is on the middle floor. It covers the period 1850–1950, when traditional rural life gave way to modern technology, and links cultural heritage with natural history. The exhibition is divided into the realms of rocks, animals and plants and includes accounts from local residents. A special section tells the story of the cooperative movement, including a replica of the parlour at Þverá, where the Kaupfélag Þingeyinga (Cooperative of the Þingeyingar) was founded in 1882.

The maritime museum shows fishing and boatbuilding in Þingeyjarsýslur, from rowing boats to motor boats. Among other things, it holds the teinæringur Hrafninn (a traditional rowing boat), a gift from Norway in 1974, and a polar bear from Grímsey. The natural history museum has birds, land mammals, farm animals, sea animals, crabs and a stone collection, as well as shell and plant collections of two private collectors. The art museum holds nearly 1,900 works, including 27 by Valtýr Pétursson.

Highlights

• The exhibition “Mannlíf og náttúra – 100 ár í Þingeyjarsýslum” (People and Nature – 100 Years in Þingeyjarsýslur)
• The teinæringur Hrafninn, a gift from Norway in 1974
• A polar bear from Grímsey in the maritime museum
• Natural history museum with birds, mammals, crabs and stones
• Art museum with nearly 1,900 works

Permanent exhibitions

• Mannlíf og náttúra – 100 ár í Þingeyjarsýslum – An exhibition on the period 1850–1950 that links cultural heritage and natural history and is divided into the realms of rocks, animals and plants.
• Sjóminjasafnið – Fishing and boatbuilding in Þingeyjarsýslur, including the teinæringur Hrafninn and a polar bear from Grímsey.
• Náttúrugripasafn – Birds, land mammals, farm animals, sea animals, crabs and stones, as well as the shell and plant collections of two private collectors.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Menningarmiðstöð Þingeyinga

Admission & discounts

A ticket is valid once across all four sites of the Menningarmiðstöð Þingeyinga in calendar year 2026 (Safnahúsið, Grenjaðarstaður, Sauðaneshús and Snartarstaðir). Free for disabled people (with proof), children under 16, and members of Físos and ICOM (with membership card).

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