Gammlia friluftsmuseum

About the museum

The open-air museum at Gammlia belongs to Västerbottens museum and consists of about thirty buildings moved here from different parts of Västerbotten. At the end of the 1910s it was decided that a people’s park with an open-air museum and a sports ground would be laid out on what was then Umeå’s north-eastern outskirts. Members of the local heritage society soon began to collect buildings and objects, with Skansen in Stockholm as the model. Between 1921 and 1990 older houses were moved to the area.

The houses tell of how people lived and worked in the county in the past, from the red-painted farms Wallmarksgården and Jämtebölegården to the baker’s cottage, the sauna and the lock-up (arresten). There is also Helena Elisabeth church, a chapel built on Holmön in 1802, as well as a school house, a long loge (långloge) and the Sámi vistena (dwellings).

In summer, and for special activities such as midsummer celebrations, autumn-break programmes and dance evenings, several of the buildings are staffed by museum hosts. In Egilhallen on the site there is the exhibition Hamnstaden Umeå (Harbour City Umeå), which is open during school holidays and on Sundays.

Highlights

• About thirty moved houses from all over Västerbotten
• Wallmarksgården and Jämtebölegården – farms with furnished rooms
• Helena Elisabeth church from Holmön, built in 1802
• The lock-up (arresten), the baker’s cottage and the sauna
• The Sámi vistena (dwellings)
• Egilhallen with the exhibition Hamnstaden Umeå

Permanent exhibition

• Friluftsmuseet Gammlia – About thirty moved buildings – farms, a baker’s cottage, sauna, lock-up, church and school house – that show how people in Västerbotten lived and worked in the past.

Founded

1919

Operated by

Västerbottens museum

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

There is always free admission to Gammlia, and most of the programme is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Paved paths lead from the car park to the farms, the houses and the Sámi vistena, with a slight slope up to the farmyard. Older houses often have thresholds and stairs: Wallmarksgården has a ramp but high thresholds (about 10 cm) to some rooms; Jämtebölegården has no ramp and has high thresholds; the baker’s cottage has a ramp and no thresholds; Egilhallen has a ramp (a grassy slope outside) and no thresholds indoors. The outdoor ramps lack non-slip surfacing and can become slippery in rain. Accessible toilets are in Egilhallen and in the museum building. Out on the site there are sound boxes (ljudburkar) with information in Swedish, English and German.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

During school holidays, midsummer and other weekends, activities for children and families are arranged. In Egilhallen children can play and learn about life in Umeå in the 1880s and borrow period clothing. Changing tables are in the museum building.

Getting there & parking

From Umeå city centre and along the E4, Gammlia is signposted.

Amenities & dining

Café and museum shop in the museum building at Gammlia (Västerbottens museum). Toilets are in the museum building and in Egilhallen. Own packed food may be eaten outdoors on the site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Several buildings at the open-air museum, including the dance floor, can be hired for parties, weddings and conferences. Enquiries to bokningar@vbm.se.

Plan your visit