Tromsø University Museum

Tromsø University Museum is a natural history museum in Tromsø that houses around two million objects related to the natural and cultural history of northern Norway. The collection includes fossils, marine animal skeletons, archaeological finds, and artifacts that document the region's past and environment.

The museum was founded in 1872 as the first scientific institution in northern Norway and began as a collector of regional natural and cultural materials. When the University of Tromsø was established in 1976, the museum was integrated into its structure.

The museum displays exhibitions about the Sami and their role in northern Norwegian society, with their crafts and ways of living in focus. These collections show how indigenous cultures and modern communities coexist in the region.

The museum is located in central Tromsø and is easily reached by public transport. Visitors should plan enough time to explore the extensive collection at a comfortable pace.

The museum displays a large ichthyosaur fossil, the remains of a prehistoric marine creature from distant geological times that offers visitors a rare glimpse into the past of northern seas. Alongside a complete whale skeleton are also exhibits about Viking boat burials, which open further perspectives on the region's early cultures.