Ottilia Adelborgmuseet

About the museum

Ottilia Adelborg (1855–1936) was an artist, writer and illustrator who created some of the first quality books in Swedish children's literature. She came to Gagnef in 1902–1903, settled there and worked to preserve the district's old peasant culture. She founded a bobbin lace school (knyppelskola) in 1903, and in 1909 Gagnefs Minnesstuga, one of Dalarna's oldest homestead museums, was handed over to the people of the district.

The museum is housed in an old vicarage (prästgård) from the 1700s in Gagnef's church village. A lace exhibition was shown here from 1991, and the museum received its present name in 1999. In summer 2015 a new permanent exhibition opened on the ground floor, with costumes, lace, artworks, objects, slideshows and a timeline of important events in Ottilia's life. Since 2019 the museum has been run by a non-profit association.

The collections comprise lace, illustrations, literature, folk costumes and objects from Gagnef, including a large number of Ottilia's drawings and watercolours, family objects and letters. The museum also manages the collections of Stiftelsen Gagnefs Minnesstuga, with about 4,000 objects and about 1,425 pieces of lace, as well as Ottilia Adelborg's personal archive. Temporary themes and events such as lectures and workshops are also held at the museum. The Kulturstråket (culture trail) through Gagnef's church village has ten stations and is always open.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on Ottilia Adelborg's art, literature and cultural-historical work
• Lace and bobbin lace from Gagnef and the world
• Gagnef costumes and objects from the district
• Museum shop with Ottilia's children's books and postcards
• The Kulturstråket in Gagnef's church village with ten stations

Permanent exhibition

• Museets permanenta utställning – Objects, pictures and films about Ottilia Adelborg's art and literature, and about lace, bobbin lace and Gagnef costumes.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Ottilia Adelborgmuseet (ideell förening)

Admission & discounts

The prices apply to the summer exhibition 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The exhibitions, a small room for temporary exhibitions and the museum shop are on the ground floor, which according to Visit Dalarna is accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Gagnef's church village at Kyrkbyvägen 36.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop by the entrance with Ottilia's children's books, postcards, art cards, reproductions and posters.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit