Bymuseet

About the museum

Bymuseet is housed at Frogner hovedgård (Frogner Manor) in Frognerparken. The farm is one of the oldest settlements in Aker and today appears as a complete 18th-century site, with a main building, farm buildings and an enclosed farmyard. The Dane Hans Jacob Scheel had the present main building erected after he bought the property in 1747, and the plank baron Bernt Anker extended the building after he took over in 1790.

Kristiania municipality bought the farm in 1896. Plans to demolish the buildings were halted, and in 1909 the association “Det gamle Christiania” (“Old Christiania”) moved in and established a city museum. Today the main building is partly a museum and partly function rooms, and the representative halls on the 2nd floor have interiors from 1750–1900, with furniture, art objects and portraits from the museum's collections.

Bymuseet is part of Stiftelsen Oslo Museum, which was established in 2006 through the merger of Bymuseet, Teatermuseet and Interkulturelt Museum. The museum manages one of the country's largest photo collections, a large collection of paintings and Oslo portraits, and a rich collection of objects. Oslo Museum was named Museum of the Year by Norges Museumsforbund (the Norwegian Museums Association) in 2019.

Highlights

• The exhibition “OsLove – byhistorie for begynnere” (“OsLove – City History for Beginners”) on Oslo's history over a thousand years
• Frogner hovedgård with salons and interiors from 1750–1900
• Guided tours of the manor house
• Teatermuseet with costumes, props and set models in the same building
• Museum café, museum shop and Oslo Museum's own library

Permanent exhibition

• OsLove – byhistorie for begynnere – The exhibition tells Oslo's history over 1,000 years, from the Middle Ages to today.

Founded

1905

Operated by

Stiftelsen Oslo Museum

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission for everyone on the first Thursday of the month.

The ticket applies to both Bymuseet and Teatermuseet.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Lift or step-free access to the museum and all the exhibitions, and wheelchairs can be borrowed. The ground floor of Frogner hovedgård is reached by a ramp, while the 2nd floor can only be reached by stairs. Automatic door openers at the entrances. All staff in front-line service have training in dementia-friendly communities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Children and young people up to and including 25 years have free admission. There is a puzzle trail for children in the exhibition “OsLove – byhistorie for begynnere” (collected in the museum shop). Strollers can be parked in the farmyard, and there are changing facilities and buggies to borrow. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Oslo Museumskafé is open all year round, and the museum shop sells Oslo-related goods and local literature. Free Wi-Fi for all guests. Lockable wardrobe lockers for outer clothing and bags. Pets are not allowed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Several rooms and halls in Frogner hovedgård, including the ballroom, can be rented for weddings, concerts, meetings and workshops.

Plan your visit