Þekkingarsetur Suðurnesja

About the museum

Þekkingarsetur Suðurnesja was founded on 1 April 2012 by the municipalities of Suðurnes, the Research Centre of the University of Iceland on Suðurnes, Náttúrustofa Suðvesturlands and Keilir. It is a non-profit foundation funded by public grants from the state and the municipalities, and it builds on the knowledge and activities of Fræðasetur Sandgerðisbæjar, Botndýrastöðin, the Research Centre of the University of Iceland and Náttúrustofan. The centre is a member of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark.

The house on Garðvegur in Sandgerði holds three public exhibitions. In the nature exhibition visitors can look at and touch stuffed animals from Icelandic nature and watch live marine animals, along with a collection of shells, plants and whale bones and the country’s only stuffed walrus. In the history hall is the exhibition on the French physician and polar explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot (1867–1936) and his research ship Pourquoi-pas?, which sank in a storm off Mýrar on 16 September 1936. The exhibition is in two rooms that imitate the bridge and cabin of the ship, and it opened on 25 February 2007.

In the art hall is the exhibition Huldir heimar hafsins – Ljós þangálfanna (“Hidden Worlds of the Sea – Light of the Seaweed Elves”), which weaves scientific knowledge about the sea together with the fairy-tale world of the seaweed elves. In the nature exhibition visitors can use the educational app Fróðleiksfúsa, and for children and families there is the treasure hunt Fjör í fjörunni. The house at Garðvegur 1 was originally a freezer plant; it now also houses Náttúrustofa Suðvesturlands and the Research Centre of the University of Iceland.

Highlights

• Nature exhibition with stuffed animals, live marine animals and the country’s only stuffed walrus
• The exhibition Jean-Baptiste Charcot – Heimskautin heilla about the polar explorer and the Pourquoi-pas? ship
• Model of the research ship Pourquoi-pas?, which sank in 1936
• The exhibition Huldir heimar hafsins – Ljós þangálfanna in the art hall
• Treasure hunt Fjör í fjörunni for children and families

Permanent exhibitions

• Náttúrusýning – Stuffed animals from Icelandic nature, live marine animals, shells, plants and whale bones, plus the country’s only stuffed walrus and the educational app Fróðleiksfúsa.
• Jean-Baptiste Charcot – Heimskautin heilla – Exhibition on the French polar explorer Charcot and his research ship Pourquoi-pas?, which sank off Mýrar in 1936, in rooms that imitate the ship’s bridge and cabin.
• Huldir heimar hafsins – Ljós þangálfanna – Educational and art exhibition by Katrín Þorvaldsdóttir that weaves scientific knowledge about the sea together with the fairy-tale world of the seaweed elves.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Þekkingarsetur Suðurnesja (sjálfseignarstofnun)

Admission & discounts

Admission to all exhibitions is included in the ticket price.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the nature exhibition visitors may touch stuffed animals and look at live marine animals. The treasure hunt Fjör í fjörunni suits both children and adults.

Getting there & parking

The centre is about a five-minute drive from Keflavík Airport.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Meeting rooms and accommodation for researchers are available in the building.

Plan your visit