Västernorrlands museum

About the museum

Västernorrlands museum is the county museum for Västernorrland and has its seat at Murberget in Härnösand. The museum is run by Stiftelsen Länsmuseet-Murberget, which was established in 1978, and it is one of the country’s 24 county museums. Since 1951 the museum and its predecessors have also managed the Björkå AB fornminnesfond (ancient-monuments fund).

Next to the museum building lies the Murberget open-air museum. It was founded by Theodor Hellman and his wife Wendela, who wanted to create a northern counterpart to Skansen. Most of the houses have been moved here from various parts of the county and show life and work from the 18th to the 20th century. The first building on the site was the bell tower from Ullånger at the beginning of the 20th century. The site lies high up, with a view over the mouth of the Ångermanälven into the Bothnian Sea.

The open-air museum includes farmsteads such as Ångermanlandsgården and Jämtgården, a town environment with wooden houses from Härnösand, an ironworks area (bruksområde), church cottages from Anundsjö parish, a fäbod (summer pasture farm) and a Sámi setting with dwelling sites for forest and mountain Sámi. The site also has a church in medieval style, built in the 1920s.

The basic exhibitions in the museum building take visitors from the first hunters and gatherers through the Iron Age, the Middle Ages and the Age of Greatness (stormaktstiden) to modern society. The museum also works with archaeology, building conservation and traditional handicrafts (hemslöjd), and it runs its own sawmill operation using timber from its own forest.

Highlights

• The basic exhibition Forntidsresan (Journey into the Past) on 9,000 years in Västernorrland and southern Sápmi
• Murberget open-air museum with houses from across the county
• Church cottages from Anundsjö, the only surviving ones of their kind
• Sámi setting with dwelling sites for forest and mountain Sámi
• Free admission for everyone
• KulturPunkt – digital media guides on site

Permanent exhibitions

• Forntidsresan – The exhibition follows people’s traces in Västernorrland and southern Sápmi over more than 9,000 years, from the first hunters and gatherers to the societies of the Iron Age.
• Stora makter – Stories of wonders, conflicts and people’s struggles as the world changed from the end of the Iron Age through the Middle Ages and the Age of Greatness.
• Nycklar till vår tid – Doors between past and present in Västernorrland, from the 18th century to today, with genuine objects and living images.

Founded

1913

Operated by

Stiftelsen Länsmuseet-Murberget

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission for everyone to the museum building and the grounds.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

The museum building is accessible by wheelchair, except for the entrance to the lecture hall, where a ramp can be borrowed. Lift to all floors, an automatic external door and two disabled parking spaces at the entrance (gravel surface). Wheelchairs and rollators can be borrowed in the cloakroom. Induction loop in the lecture hall. Sign-language interpreting can be ordered via Tolkcentralen; audio description should be requested two weeks in advance but cannot be guaranteed. At Murberget open-air museum only some buildings are accessible, because of their older construction methods.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Children’s exhibitions, creative activities in the Studion one floor down, the discovery booklet Museimästarna (Museum Masters) and activities during the school holidays. Pushchairs may be brought in. Changing tables are in the accessible toilet in the entrance hall, and staff will help warm baby food.

Getting there & parking

By car from the E4, follow the signs for Länsmuseet into Härnösand.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Kafé Skafferiet serves pastries and simpler lunches. Free wifi for visitors in the museum building (network VNMuseum Free WIFI, no password). Museum shop in the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum offers venues for events and conferences.

Plan your visit