Sulitjelma gruvemuseum

About the museum

For over a hundred years, Sulitjelma was one of Norway's largest mining communities. Sulitjelma gruvemuseum tells the story of the people who built an entire community around the copper mines in Nordland.

The museum lies in the first industrial area established when mining began. The old copper smelter (kobbersmeltehytta) from 1899 and the first power station from 1893 still stand. The exhibitions cover transport, industrialisation, workers' struggles, health and everyday life in a one-industry community, and hundreds of historical photographs give insight into the lives of the miners and their families.

A separate mineral exhibition shows forms, colours and naturally formed sculptures in rocks and minerals from the area. One of the well-known objects is the “Slavemerket” (the slave badge) from 1906, a metal pendant that the workers refused to wear, which led them to found a trade union in 1907. Sulitjelma besøksgruve (visitor mine) is nearby. The museum is run by Nordlandsmuseet.

Highlights

• Copper smelter from 1899 and power station from 1893
• Hundreds of historical photographs
• Mineral exhibition with local rocks
• “Slavemerket” (the slave badge) from the workers' struggle of 1906–07
• Near the Sulitjelma visitor mine

Permanent exhibition

• Gruvesamfunnet Sulitjelma – The exhibitions show transport, industrialisation, workers' struggles, health and everyday life in the mining community, with historical photographs and a mineral exhibition.

Operated by

Nordlandsmuseet

Admission & discounts

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

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

Wheelchair ramp into the museum. The exhibitions are on the ground floor and in the basement; there are only stairs down to the basement, with no lift or ramp. Toilet in the basement.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

Follow the E6 to Finneid and then county road 830 to Sulitjelma. The museum is at the eastern end of Langvatnet, and information boards are set up at Finneid and on arrival in Sulitjelma.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop. Picnic benches outside in the summer season.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit