Karmsund folkemuseum

About the museum

Karmsund folkemuseum is Haugesund's cultural history museum. Museums- og historielaget for Haugesund og bygdene (the Museum and Local History Association for Haugesund and the rural districts) founded the museum in 1925 under the name Haugesund Museum. The public exhibitions opened in the newly built Haugesund town hall (rådhus) in 1932, and in 1985 the museum moved to its own premises in the town's oldest dairy building at Skåregata 142. Since 2005 the museum has been part of Haugalandmuseet, and the administration of Haugalandmuseet is also located here.

The museum has two permanent exhibitions: “Fra jord til bord” (From Field to Table), on farming on Haugaland from 1650 to 1900, and “Byen som gikk i land” (The Town That Came Ashore), a jubilee exhibition made for Haugesund's 150th anniversary in 2004. The rich herring fishery from 1850 to 1870 laid the foundation for herring exports to Europe and for Haugesund's position as one of Norway's largest shipping towns, while the surrounding region for a long time lived from traditional fishing and farming.

The collection also includes folk art such as chests, cupboards, riding saddles (ridesaler) and gift baskets (sendingskorger), which show a society with rich craft traditions. The museum has its own reading corner, a children's play corner, a museum shop and a simple café.

Highlights

• The exhibition “Fra jord til bord” (From Field to Table) on farming from 1650 to 1900
• “Byen som gikk i land” (The Town That Came Ashore) on Haugesund's town history
• Folk art such as chests, cupboards and riding saddles (ridesaler)
• Play corner, reading corner and treasure hunt for children
• Museum shop and simple café

Permanent exhibitions

• Fra jord til bord – Exhibition on farming on Haugaland from 1650 to 1900.
• Byen som gikk i land – Jubilee exhibition made for Haugesund's 150th anniversary in 2004, about the town's growth and history.

Founded

1925

Operated by

Haugalandmuseet

Admission & discounts

Members of Haugalandmuseet venner (Friends of Haugalandmuseet) enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

There are stairs between the exhibitions.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

Children can play in the play corner or take part in a treasure hunt. The museum also has a reading corner with books and periodicals. Children under 16 enter free.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Skåregata 142 in central Haugesund.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Simple café and museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit