Drammen Museum, dep. Gulskogen gård

Warmly welcome to explore the rich history of Gulskogen Gård's estate! Now is your opportunity to step into the main house and wander through the interiors of the past, guided by a knowledgeable museum host. Alongside this host, you'll gain access to exciting digital storytelling that sheds light on the estate's historical significance. Take a moment to visit the brewery house and the chamber in the side wing, where you'll find a charming kiosk offering refreshments. Gulskogen Gård is a historical treasure trove awaiting your exploration and warmly invites you to be inspired by the stories it has to tell.

Here's a glimpse:

In the late 18th century, the prosperous farmer Hans Hansen Gulskogen owned the Søndre Skogen estate. However, when fate led him into imprisonment and later to his demise, the estate was put up for auction in 1793. Peter Nicolai Arbo and Anne Cathrine Collett, the city's most affluent and influential residents, seized the opportunity. Within just a few years, they oversaw a remarkable transformation of Gulskogen. They converted the original buildings into magnificent classical country villas inspired by English and Danish architectural trends. Simultaneously, the lower section of the estate's grounds was transformed into a grand 30-acre landscaped park. In the early 19th century, Gulskogen stood among the many luxurious country estates lining both sides of the majestic Drammen River.

After the estate's founder moved to Denmark in 1809, Gulskogen was leased out and saw limited use as a country retreat. It wasn't until 1828 that the historic estate regained its status as a permanent residence. At that time, Christian Fredrik Arbo, a relative of the founder, and his wife Marie Christiane Rosen took up residence in the house. Since then, Gulskogen has remained in the family's possession, with subsequent generations calling it home. Notable figures like the painter Peter Nicolai Arbo (1831-92) and the architect Christian Fredrik Arbo (1876-1951) spent significant periods here. The estate's final owner was the textile artist Ingeborg Arbo (1872-1958).

Regarding the buildings, the garden, and the museum, the exterior cladding of the main house imitates classical sandstone decor, and the painted windows hint at the installation of modern "English" sliding sashes during the era. Originally, the main building was surrounded by two detached side wings, which, from the garden's perspective, resembled beautiful pavilions on either side of the main house. However, in the 1860s, the southern wing was removed, and concurrently, the main building was extended to its present-day dining room, forming a corner with the north wing.

While many of the other grand country estates along the river gradually disappeared, replaced by factories and residential buildings, Gulskogen has succeeded in preserving its history and charm. The old outer wing facing the road remains intact, albeit concealed beneath the external cladding. A large communal barn was constructed in 1857 and has survived since the estate was still in operation. In 1959, Gulskogen became a foundation and opened its doors to visitors for the first time in 1972. In 1996, it became a part of the Drammens Museum Foundation. The restoration of the estate was led by architect Christian Fredrik Arbo, who also designed the picket fence surrounding the property. Gulskogen is a rare and complete estate, providing an authentic glimpse into the Arbo family's era with a furnished house and intact outbuildings. The park is another remarkable aspect of the estate, featuring walnut groves, ponds, and beautiful flower beds. The 265-meter-long lime tree alley makes the estate a unique character, and the park boasts Norway's only remaining linden tree labyrinth.

At Gulskogen, you'll also find a historic boathouse relocated from "Runtom" in Drammen in the 1970s. Although it's believed to date back to the 1800s, it may have an even more extensive history. The boathouse has been meticulously restored, including the reconstruction of the hoisting mechanism. It houses an intriguing exhibition titled "Viewing the Drammen River through a Boathouse," exploring the river's significance for industry, transportation, and culture in the region. Adjacent to the boathouse, you'll discover a boathouse built in 1991, which houses, among other things, a boat used for transporting timber from the Drammen River. Further up the riverbank stands a "stemhus" that was moved from "Konghenglet" in Sigdal. This building contains a spool with a cable for releasing timber rafts into the river. Along the riverbanks, you can still see wooden posts used for timber storage from the era of log floating, with some of these posts remaining visible in the river today.