Maihaugen

About the museum

Maihaugen grew out of the collection of the dentist Anders Sandvig, who came to Lillehammer in 1885. Two years later he began collecting old objects, driven by childhood memories and by fear that local cultural heritage would disappear from the district. He set up the first objects and buildings in his own garden at the bottom of Jernbanegata. The collection was later bought by Lillehammer Bys Vel and moved to Maihaugen, and the open-air museum opened on 2 July 1904 under the name Maihaugen – De Sandvigske Samlinger (The Sandvig Collections). Sandvig led the museum until 1946.

The aim was to show a varied selection of historic homes, so that the museum could illustrate a whole rural community with its different functions. Today the open-air museum consists of over 200 buildings in three main areas: Bygda (the countryside), with the seter hamlet and the cabin hamlet; Byen (the town), which shows an inland town in the early 1900s; and Boligfeltet (the housing estate), with detached houses from different decades. The Garmo stave church, rebuilt at Maihaugen in 1921 from parts that the collector Skrap-Tron Eklestuen had gathered over more than 30 years, is one of the highlights.

The main building, the visitor centre, was erected in 1958 and has been extended several times, especially before the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Here are permanent and changing exhibitions, a café and a museum shop. Maihaugen is part of Stiftelsen Lillehammer museum, and the ticket also gives admission to Norges Olympiske Museum and, in the high season, to Norges Postmuseum. In the summer, guests meet actors who portray how people lived in the past.

Highlights

• Over 200 historic buildings in the open-air museum
• Garmo stave church, rebuilt at Maihaugen in 1921
• Byen, an inland town from the early 1900s
• Boligfeltet with detached houses from different decades
• Anders Sandvig's dental surgery, furnished as in 1880–1900
• The ticket also gives admission to Norges Olympiske Museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Friluftsmuseet – Over 200 historic buildings in Bygda, Byen and Boligfeltet, with the seter hamlet, the cabin hamlet and Garmo stave church.
• Langsomt ble landet vårt eget – Exhibition in the visitor centre on the history of Norway.
• Anders Sandvigs tannlegekontor – The dental surgery of the museum's founder, furnished as in 1880–1900.

Founded

1904

Operated by

Stiftelsen Lillehammer museum

Admission & discounts

The price varies with the season (low season NOK 185, mid season NOK 210, high season NOK 245 for adults; these are the prices for 2027 – in 2026 low season costs NOK 180). The ticket gives admission to both Maihaugen and Norges Olympiske Museum, and to Norges Postmuseum when it is open in the high season (19 May–11 October). Joint ticket: 25% discount when visiting two or more museums of Stiftelsen Lillehammer museum, only when bought together at the counter.

Accessibility

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

The visitor centre is well adapted, with a wheelchair route between the floors, and there is a paved route without steps from the car park to the main building. In the open-air museum the paths are mainly gravel with steep sections, and the old houses are not very accessible, but on request you can enter selected houses via wheelchair ramps. The Postgården (post office building) in Byen is adapted and has a lift to the exhibition on the first floor. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the visitor centre (advance booking recommended). Two HC parking spaces closest to the main entrance. Assistance dogs have access to all areas.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

Children of all ages can play and learn in historic surroundings, with, among other things, Barnas sommerdag (Children's Summer Day), an activity week, a holiday programme, and a quiz and rebus at child height every day during opening hours. Children aged 0–5 enter free of charge, and there is a family discount on the ticket.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

The Maihaugkafeen in the visitor centre has a view of Garmo stave church and serves cakes, waffles and lunch dishes during opening hours. In the summer there are several places to eat outdoors in the open-air museum. Museum shop in the visitor centre and lockable lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Meetings and events; see the museum's page for rooms.

Plan your visit