Saltdal bygdetun

About the museum

Saltnes is the place where the river from the valley meets the fjord. In the 1600s the site became the centre of the district, with a church, a market, a general store and sailing trade. Sámi travelled all the way from Arvidsjaur in Sweden with silver, reindeer hides, meat and birch bark, and took back homespun wool cloth, tobacco, spirits and coffee.

From 1751 to 1899 Saltnes was run by the Ellingsen family, one of Nordland's richest trading families, with a general store, servants and freight shipping. The only buildings left from the heyday are Skippergården and the nearest stabbur. The other houses were moved here from Rognan, mountain farms to the east, hamlets to the south and a school building from Dverset. Saltdal municipality took over the property in 1975, and since 1977 the site has been a rural heritage farmstead and museum.

The main building is Skippergården, where the Ellingsen trading family had its main seat. In the summer season there is a café serving svele and a museum shop, and the guides talk about freight shipping, general stores and the spirits trade. Blodveimuseet is on the same site. The farmstead is run by Nordlandsmuseet.

Highlights

• Skippergården, main seat of the Ellingsen trading family 1751–1899
• Log-built houses, skytter and Nordland boats
• Svele café and museum shop in the summer season
• Blodveimuseet on the same site

Permanent exhibition

• Skippergården og bygdetunet – The exhibitions in Skippergården and the relocated houses show the history of trade and rural life in Saltdal in the 1800s.

Operated by

Nordlandsmuseet

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought on arrival at the museum. Separate prices apply for visits outside the normal opening hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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 houses on the farmstead are not adapted for people with disabilities. Toilet in Skippergården.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The farmstead is at Saltnes, 2 km north of Rognan town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Svele café and museum shop in the summer season; the café is known for svele with cloudberry cream.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit