Grenna Museum

About the museum

Grenna Museum is run by Stiftelsen Grenna Museum (Grenna Museum Foundation), which was formed in 1977 by Grenna Local Heritage Association and Jönköping Municipality. Its basis is the local heritage association’s activities from 1912, when the first open-air museum on Grännaberget was established. The collections grew around the memory of the engineer S. A. Andrée’s balloon flight towards the North Pole in 1897, and the museum started from Valborg Franck’s home, which became the first museum about the expedition.

In May 2002 the museum moved into the newly built Grenna Kulturgård (Grenna Culture Manor) on Brahegatan, where the exhibitions are spread over two floors and where the tourist office and library are also located. The name Polarcenter (Polar Centre) marks that the story also covers other expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic and ongoing polar research. The museum has one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive collections of polar historical objects.

The local history is shown in the Franckska gården, Gränna’s oldest house, from the mid-17th century, which stands on the museum grounds. The foundation also manages the Grännaberget open-air museum, with several relocated buildings and a café, and two mills in the industrial village of Röttle just south of Gränna. Rasmus kvarn is a stone building from 1662 that was originally a borrbruk (boring works) for making muskets. It was rebuilt as a mill around 1700, renovated in 1976–1977 and still grinds grain with water power.

Highlights

• Polar Centre with S. A. Andrée’s polar expedition of 1897
• Permanent exhibition on Otto Nordenskjöld’s Antarctic expedition 1901–1903
• Franckska gården, Gränna’s oldest house, with local history and Amalia Erikson
• Grännaberget open-air museum with a coffee cabin and views over Lake Vättern
• Rasmus kvarn in Röttle, a water-powered mill from the 17th century

Permanent exhibitions

• Polarcenter – Andréexpeditionen – Basic exhibition on two floors on S. A. Andrée’s polar expedition of 1897, on other expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic (including Otto Nordenskjöld’s) and on contemporary polar research.
• Franckska gården – Grännas historia – Local history exhibition in Gränna’s oldest house, with Amalia Erikson, the mother of the polkagris (Gränna’s peppermint stick candy), people from the town’s history and older films from the 1930s to the 1960s.
• Grännabergets friluftsmuseum – Relocated cultural history buildings on the mountain edge above Gränna with views over Lake Vättern, open in summer.

Founded

1977

Operated by

Stiftelsen Grenna Museum

Admission & discounts

The Grännaberget open-air museum has free admission. Guided viewings for groups cost extra (for example SEK 250 per room for film and question session) and must be booked in advance; school groups have special prices.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

The Polar Centre exhibition is on two floors reached by lift. The square outside is sloping and cobbled; alternatively you can enter from Bergsgatan and take the lift down one floor. In the Franckska gården there are ramps over high thresholds, but the 17th-century house is cramped, with small rooms. At the open-air museum on Grännaberget you can drive right up for those who need to park close by. Dogs are not allowed in the building.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Educational worksheets for school classes and children’s groups are available, as well as viewings and programmes for children. A baby-changing room is one flight up outside Gränna library.

Getting there & parking

Visiting address: Brahegatan 38–40, Grenna Kulturgård in Gränna. Rasmus kvarn lies in Röttle village just south of Gränna.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Coffee cabin at the open-air museum on Grännaberget (open when the open-air museum is open). Museum shop with books, stationery, home décor and souvenirs. Cloakroom and lockers at reception. Wi-Fi is available in the meeting rooms.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 66 guests.

Meeting room for 16 people and a lecture hall with 66 seats in the Kulturgården, with Wi-Fi, projector and computer. Rasmus kvarn can be rented for a guided viewing with coffee and cake, May–September, for up to 15 people.

Plan your visit