Oppdalsmuseet

About the museum

Oppdalsmuseet grew out of Oppdal Bygdemuseum, which had its origins in a meeting on 6 May 1937. Ola J. Rise and Ola Setrom led the effort to set up a museum association to preserve the local building traditions. In the summer of 1954, Bekkastuggu was rebuilt as the first house in the Fjellkåsa area. Since then a number of buildings and objects have been added, showing how the farms in Oppdal functioned in the self-sufficient society.

Today around thirty timber buildings from different periods of local history stand on the museum grounds, including living houses such as Skjørstadstuggu, Hoksengstuggu and Dørresstuggu, and outbuildings such as barns, cowsheds, grain mills, a bathhouse, a storehouse (stabbur), a smithy, a summer dairy (seterbu) and a fishing hut. The museum has several thousand objects from the old farming community.

In addition there are separate exhibitions on wood carving in the Håndverkshuset (craft house), skiing, school, telephony, textiles, nursing and the slate industry. The railway museum was completed in 2024, built by volunteers in Foreningen Dovrebanen. The museum is owned by Oppdal municipality and has been a separate department of Oppdal kulturhus since 1 January 2015.

Highlights

• Around thirty timber buildings from the late 16th century to the mid-20th century
• Håndverkshuset with wood carvings by Ole Moene and Sverre Stenløkk
• The school museum in Hoksengstuggu
• The slate works, with demonstrations of hewing and splitting
• The railway museum about the Dovre Railway
• Guided tour of the burial ground at Vang with around 900 burial mounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Bygdemuseet – Around thirty timber buildings from different periods, with living houses, outbuildings and several thousand objects from the old farming community.
• Håndverkshuset – Sverresstuggu is richly decorated with wood carvings and shows works by Ole Moene and other local woodcarvers.
• Skiferanlegget – The exhibition shows the development of the slate industry from the 1920s; in the season, hewing and splitting are demonstrated in the traditional way.

Operated by

Oppdal kommune (Oppdal kulturhus)

Admission & discounts

The entry ticket covers the museum's buildings and exhibitions, guided tours, demonstrations and craft activities on the days they are offered.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Under the theme “Play and learn”, children can try handicrafts, old-fashioned baking, wood carving and an old-style school lesson. School classes get a special programme for all grades of primary school.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café in the season, with coffee, baked goods, ice cream and soft drinks. Local history literature is sold.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Premises and equipment can be rented for meetings, courses and events all year round, including confirmations, birthdays, weddings and memorial gatherings.

Plan your visit