Utö gruv- och hembygdsmuseum
Small voluntary museum on Utö in the Spruthuset, with ores and minerals, mining history and the island's history from the 12th century.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Utö gruv- och hembygdsmuseum (Utö Mining and Local History Museum) lies opposite Utö värdshus (inn) in a building from the early 18th century that among other uses served as a fire station and was therefore called Spruthuset (the Fire Engine House). The museum is run voluntarily by Utö hembygdsförening (Utö Local Heritage Society) and shows the island's history from the 12th century onwards.
The collections include ores and minerals from the Utö mines, pictures and information boards from the mining era to the present, and an exhibition on how people may have lived out in the outermost archipelago belt. The museum shows, among other things, the mineral petalite, which was discovered in 1817 in samples from Utö, and in which the chemist Johan August Arfwedson demonstrated the element lithium. A small exhibition on lithium was added in 2025.
The museum also tells of the Russian raids of 1719, when Utö was hit on 16 July. Visitors can listen to stories on old telephones, and an exhibition shows finds from exploration dives in the mines in 2019 and 2020.
Highlights
- Collection of ores and minerals from the Utö mines
- The mineral petalite and an exhibition on lithium
- The Russian raids of 1719 on Utö
- Listen to stories on old telephones
- Finds from dives in the flooded mines
Permanent exhibition
- Utö från gruvtid till nutid – Ores, minerals, pictures and signs about mining on Utö and the island's history from the 12th century, with elements on the Russian raids of 1719 and the discovery of lithium.
- Operated by
- Utö hembygdsförening
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Free admission. A viewing for groups and classes costs SEK 600–1,000 per group and is booked via Utö hembygdsförening.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum lies opposite Utö värdshus (inn).
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A viewing of the mining museum for groups and classes is booked with the association. |
