Norsk Døvemuseum

About the museum

Norsk Døvemuseum (Norwegian Deaf Museum) is a national museum for the culture and history of deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Its main task is to safeguard and communicate the history of hard-of-hearing people from all over Norway and to make a minority group in Norwegian society visible. The museum’s history began in 1992 with the private foundation Norsk Døvehistorisk museum, where a group of enthusiasts built up a collection of objects and photographs, mainly related to the education of hard-of-hearing people. In 2002 the collections were taken over by Trøndelag Folkemuseum, and in 2009 the museum reopened in converted premises with a new exhibition.

The museum is housed in the Rødbygget at Bispegata 9B, Trondheim’s first neo-Gothic building, designed by the architect Chr. H. Grosch. The building was completed in 1855 and was taken into use as a school for the deaf the same year; the school remained there until it moved to Heimdal in 1991. Today Museene i Sør-Trøndelag leases part of the ground floor for museum premises.

The museum’s red thread is communication, and the exhibitions are both concept-based and traditional. The museum functions as a cultural meeting place between hearing and deaf people. It was nominated for Årets museum (Museum of the Year) in 2012 and won Årets formidlingsidé (Outreach Idea of the Year) in 2017 together with Ringve Musikkmuseum.

Highlights

• Rødbygget from 1855, formerly a school for the deaf
• Content in sign language, text, sound and Braille
• Exhibition on the history of deafblind people, with objects that can be touched
• Rom X, a communication room where the body is the language

Permanent exhibition

• Rom X – A room where visitors use the body as a language and explore different methods of communication, as a bridge between spoken language and sign language.

Founded

1992

Operated by

Museene i Sør-Trøndelag AS (MiST)

Admission & discounts

A ticket to Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum gives free admission to Norsk Døvemuseum and Trondhjems Sjøfartsmuseum, and conversely a discount on the Sverresborg ticket price is given for a ticket to Norsk Døvemuseum. The offers must be used within one week and apply on regular opening days.

Accessibility

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

Entrance with a ramp from the back courtyard. The museum is on the ground floor, with automatic doors and no obstacles through the exhibition; an accessible toilet is on the first floor (2nd etasje), reached by lift. All information is available in Norwegian sign language or text, and written information is available as Braille or audio. Most objects are behind glass, but the exhibition on deafblindness has objects that can be touched. An interpreter for guided tours can be booked through the museum.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children under 16 have free admission. The museum has programmes for schools and kindergartens, and in Rom X the children use the body as a form of communication.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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