Norsk utvandrermuseum

About the museum

Norsk utvandrermuseum is a museum and research centre for the history of emigration from Norway, and of immigration and return migration. Since 1825 around 900,000 Norwegians have left the country, and the museum tells their stories. It is located at Åkershagan in Ottestad in Stange municipality and is part of Anno museum. It was previously also known as Migrasjonsmuseet (the Migration Museum).

In the open-air museum stand eight historic buildings that Norwegian immigrants built in the American Midwest between about 1870 and 1920. The houses have been moved to Norway and rebuilt, and they show how the settlers lived and worked. Among them are the Kindred house, Gundersonstua, the Lindahl grain crib, the Bjørgo-grøneriet, Sacquitnelåven, the emigrant church, the Bjørgo house and the Leet-Christopher school.

The museum collects and cares for objects, photographs, books and archive material about Norwegian emigrants, and conducts research and communication through exhibitions, publications and lectures. A guided tour is recommended, as it takes visitors inside the buildings.

Highlights

• Eight buildings from Norwegian settler communities in the Midwest, moved to Norway
• The emigrant church and the Leet-Christopher school
• Guided tours inside the historic houses
• Collections of objects, photographs, books and archives on emigration
• Research on emigration, immigration and return migration

Permanent exhibition

• Friluftsmuseet – Eight historic buildings from Norwegian-American settler communities in the Midwest, moved to Norway and set up on the museum grounds.

Operated by

Anno museum

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

The disabled parking space is closest to the museum building, and there is a disabled toilet at the entrance and a lift between the floors. Gravel at the main entrance makes access by wheelchair difficult; contact the museum to arrange another entrance.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about one and a half hours’ drive north of Oslo, near Hamar.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Reception and museum shop in the museum building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit