Vardø museum
Finnmark's oldest museum in the Gammelskolen (old school) in Vardø, with exhibitions on the town's cultural history, Sámi Vardø and a collection of stuffed birds.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vardø museum is Finnmark's oldest museum. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, research and convey the cultural history of Vardø municipality. The museum is housed in Gammelskolen at Skolegata 1 and is a branch of Varanger Museum IKS.
The exhibition “Vardø – en smeltedigel ved ishavet” (“Vardø – a melting pot by the Arctic Ocean”) tells how the town grew from fewer than a hundred inhabitants in 1801 to around 3,000 by the end of the century, and how people from many countries and cultures met at the border between east and west. The photo exhibition “Smeltedigelen Vardø” shows today's people of Vardø, and “Det samiske Vardø” (“The Sámi Vardø”) explores the Sámi presence in the town, past and present. In the natural history room, 213 stuffed birds are shown, collected in Finnmark between 1876 and 1969.
The museum offers tours of the exhibitions and guided walks, including Vardøguiden, a one-hour historical walk from the museum, and a guided tour on the witch trials in Finnmark for groups, which also includes the Steilneset memorial site.
Highlights
- Finnmark's oldest museum
- “Vardø – en smeltedigel ved ishavet”
- “Det samiske Vardø”
- 213 stuffed birds from Finnmark in the natural history room
- Vardøguiden and a guided tour on the witch trials
Permanent exhibitions
- Vardø – en smeltedigel ved ishavet – Exhibition on the town's rapid growth in the 1800s and on the meeting of cultures and nationalities at the border between east and west.
- Det samiske Vardø – Exhibition on the Sámi presence in Vardø, past and present, developed with advice from Sámi museums.
- Synge alle dage? – Natural history room with 213 stuffed birds collected in Finnmark between 1876 and 1969.
- Operated by
- Varanger Museum IKS
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 120 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 100Seniors (honnør), students and conscripts |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children under 16 enter free. |
| Seniors | NOK 100Seniors (honnør) |
| Students & apprentices | NOK 100 |
| Vardøguiden (historical walk, approx. 1 hour) | NOK 275Admission to the museum's exhibitions is included. Must be booked at least three days in advance. |
School classes and nurseries enter free. The Steilneset memorial site has free admission and is always open, without staff.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours of the exhibitions and guided walks can be booked. Guided tours must be booked at least three days in advance. The guided tour on the witch trials is only for groups and begins with a lecture at the museum before the walk to the Steilneset memorial site. |
