Museum of Cultural History, University museum in central Oslo, Norway
The Museum of Cultural History is a university collection in central Oslo with three million objects spanning various periods of Norwegian history. The collection spreads across several buildings and displays finds from the Stone Age through modern times.
The museum was founded in 1894 and took its present form in 1999 when various institutions such as the Viking Ship Museum and Coin Cabinet were merged. This fusion created a center that brings together the full span of Norwegian cultural history under one roof.
The exhibits show objects that reflect everyday life across different periods, from simple household items to valuable decorations. Visitors see directly how people in the past lived, ate, and spent their time.
The museum is spread across several locations in Oslo, with main buildings in the city center and additional spaces on the Bygdøy peninsula. Visitors should plan time for multiple visits or set priorities since the collections are very extensive.
The museum keeps several perfectly preserved Viking ships that will move to a new Viking Age museum opening in 2027. Until then, visitors can still see these special finds at their current locations.
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