Lillesand By- og Sjøfartsmuseum

About the museum

Carl Knudsen-gården, originally called Grøgaard-gården, was built by Johannes Grøgaard in 1827. He was a merchant, shipyard owner, shipowner and consul, and ran a shop and a tobacco-spinning mill in the farm. After his death the property was auctioned off in 1884, and the buyer was ship captain Carl Knudsen, who ran a shipping company and a steamship agency and later became mayor of Lillesand. The small house where the museum shop is located was built in 1884.

Carl Knudsen's daughter Thyra Mercedes Knudsen lived in the main house from the 1950s until she died in 1963. In her will she gave Lillesand municipality the right of first refusal on the house, on condition that the buildings and interiors were used as a museum. The museum has been open every summer since 1970. In the years 2008–2011 it was consolidated with Aust-Agder kulturhistoriske senter, and since 2012 it has again been run by Lillesand municipality.

The museum shows interiors, maritime history and local history from Lillesand, with a collection that includes, among other things, the Bible from 1633, a figurehead and a carpenter's and boatbuilder's workshop. Separate exhibitions are shown in the Tollboden (customs house). The friends' association Lillesand by- og sjøfartsmuseums Venner supports exhibitions and runs the museum shop together with volunteers.

Highlights

• Merchant's house from 1827 with preserved interiors
• Maritime history and local town history
• The Bible from 1633
• Figurehead and carpenter's and boatbuilder's workshop
• Museum shop with local literature and crafts
• Exhibitions in the Tollboden

Permanent exhibitions

• Carl Knudsen-gården – The merchant's house from 1827 with preserved interiors, the museum collection and a back yard with a brewhouse and a carpenter's and boatbuilder's workshop.
• Museumssamlingen – Collection including the Bible from 1633, a figurehead and objects from seafaring and town life.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Lillesand kommune

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop in the small house from 1884 with products from local artists and local history literature; open in the summer season and during Advent.

Events & venue rental

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