Drängsmarks vatten- och ångsåg

About the museum

At the Kvarnbäcken stream in Drängsmark the villagers have used water power since the 1700s. The village's first sawmill was built upstream in 1741, and in the mid-1830s a sawmill was built at Kvarnforsen. The present sawmill building was completed in the mid-1890s, with a frame saw driven by a turbine. In 1924 a steam engine was installed, a portable steam engine (lokomobil) from Munktell, which could drive the sawmill all year round.

Sawing ceased in the mid-1960s. Since the 1970s the village commoners of Drängsmark (byamän) have restored and shown the environment, and every summer demonstration sawing is shown to the public. The facility was declared a listed building in 1985 and was named Industrial Heritage of the Year in 2007. It is described as the only working water and steam sawmill in the Nordic countries.

Around the sawmill a local heritage area has grown up, with a local heritage museum in a lodge (loge) from 1899, a storehouse (härbre) from the 1700s, a saltpetre barn from 1856, a smithy, a shaving planer, the Schillmarksmuséet and a summer café.

Highlights

• Sawmill building with a frame saw and preserved steam engine (portable steam engine from 1924)
• Demonstration sawing shown to the public every summer
• Local heritage museum in a lodge from 1899
• Smithy, saltpetre barn and storehouse in the local heritage area
• Summer café with waffles, fika buns and ice cream

Permanent exhibition

• Hembygdsmuseet – Local heritage museum in a lodge from 1899 with old working objects.

Operated by

Drängsmarks byaförening

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Service building with shower and an accessible toilet.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The steam sawmill lies by Kvarnforsen north of Drängsmark, by the Kvarnbäcken stream.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Summer café in the steam sawmill with waffles, home-baked fika buns, ice cream and drinks (payment with Swish), and a summer kiosk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit