Arbetarmuseet Gråbo

About the museum

Gråbo was built around 1870 as housing for workers at Bofors bruk. At its peak nine families, 50–60 people, lived in the house at the same time, and many of them were Lancashire smiths who refined cast iron into malleable iron at the smithy right next door. Bofors bruk was founded in 1646 and grew considerably during the 19th century, and since the 1700s housing had been part of the ironworker's wages.

The house was lived in until the 1970s and was then left empty. Thanks to efforts by the municipality, AB Bofors and the local heritage society, it was saved from demolition and renovated by Karlskoga Municipality, which still owns it, and opened in 1986 as a museum of workers' lives and home conditions. Since then Gråbo has been run by Örebro läns museum (Örebro County Museum) with support from the municipality.

On the upper floor three flats show what a workers' home could look like in 1885, 1918 and 1942, and visitors can follow the development from the wood-burning stove and household pig to electricity and running water. On the ground floor is the exhibition Mat – alltid till hands (Food – Always at Hand), about food management through the ages. Around the house lies Gråbo trädgård (Gråbo garden), a culturally historic garden, and children can play as in the past in Mini-Gråbo. Gråbo is part of a site of national interest for cultural heritage (riksintresse) together with Bofors station and the Rosendal housing area.

Highlights

• Three brought-to-life workers' homes from 1885, 1918 and 1942
• The exhibition Mat – alltid till hands
• Mini-Gråbo, a play environment for children
• Gråbo trädgård, a culturally historic garden
• The storytelling performance Gråbo berättar (Gråbo Tells)
• Part of the site of national interest at Bofors

Permanent exhibitions

• Tre arbetarhem 1885, 1918 och 1942 – Three brought-to-life flats on the upper floor show how workers' families' homes looked at different times.
• Mat – alltid till hands – The exhibition on the ground floor is about food management and preparedness through the ages, from self-sufficiency to imported goods.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Örebro läns museum

Admission & discounts

Visits are booked in advance via the museum's booking form.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

Ramp at the main entrance and an accessible toilet. There is no lift to the upper floor with the three flats; anyone who cannot climb the stairs can watch a film from the upper floor on the ground floor. Disabled parking is available at the house (not signposted). Information leaflets in Swedish and English are available on site.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Mini-Gråbo is a play environment where children can dress up, cook and wash as in the old days. Younger pupils may wear period clothes and try out tools from the past.

Getting there & parking

From the E18, take the Rosendal exit at Strömsbro in Karlskoga and follow the sign for Arbetarmuseum (the second exit to the left). Disabled parking is available at the house.

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