De Samiske Samlinger
Norway’s largest Sámi museum, with an open-air museum of Sámi buildings in Karasjok; the exhibitions in the main building are permanently closed.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat – De Samiske Samlinger in Karasjok is a Sámi cultural history museum. Work to establish it began as early as 1939, and the first buildings in the open-air museum were erected on the museum site at the end of the 1950s. The museum was founded in 1972 as the first Sámi museum and the first Sámi cultural institution in Norway, and the museum building was opened on 16 April 1972. The building was decorated by the Sámi artist Iver Jåks.
The museum manages more than 5,000 objects, the largest museum collection showing Sámi cultural history in Norway. The collection covers ways of life, household, livelihoods, traditional Sámi clothing, religion, duodji (Sámi handicraft) and art from all of Sápmi. De Samiske Samlinger is the largest museum within RiddoDuottarMuseat, a Sámi museum foundation in West Finnmark established in 2006.
The exhibitions in the main building are now permanently closed, and the collections are being moved to temporary storage while awaiting a new museum. The open-air museum can still be visited. It contains Sámi buildings, including the Jávrebáinjárga farmstead from the late 19th century and the Beaivvašgeddi mountain lodge, as well as outbuildings, a stable, goahti (turf huts) and reconstructed storage structures such as njálla, loavvi and stávrá. Pitfall traps show a method of catching wild reindeer that is several thousand years old.
Highlights
- Open-air museum with Sámi buildings and turf huts
- Jávrebáinjárga farmstead from the late 19th century
- Beaivvašgeddi mountain lodge
- Pitfall traps for wild reindeer
- Digital guided tour of the open-air museum (VAPPUS)
Permanent exhibition
- SVD Friluftsmuseum – Open-air museum with Sámi buildings, turf huts and pitfall traps for wild reindeer.
- Founded
- 1972
- Operated by
- RiddoDuottarMuseat
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is located right next to Sápmi Park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | In the open-air museum you can learn about the buildings with the digital app VAPPUS or by scanning the QR codes at the buildings. Contact reception with any enquiries. |
