The Historical Museum

The largest collection of items from pre-historic times and the Middle Ages found in Norway.

Travel back in time at Norway’s largest collection of artefacts from prehistoric times and the Middle Ages.

What did the people of the past think, believe and know? How did they organise their lives, their belongings and their knowledge? Experience some of the most exquisite objects from the Norwegian Viking Age, such as ornate swords, gold jewellery, and a very rare Viking helmet.

See an extensive collection of religious artefacts from the Middle Ages. Learn about the people of the Norwegian Stone Age, explore the Egyptian mummies and gain insight into wonderfully diverse cultures from across the world through the museum's ethnographic exhibitions. The Historical Museum is a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture, and the rich embellishments have a unique mix of Norwegian and international elements.

The Historical Museum and the Museum of the Viking Age are part of the Museum of Cultural History (at the University of Oslo). The exhibitions in the museums reflect their world-leading academic community.

Exhibitions:

VíKINGR: Some of the most exquisite artefacts that have been found from the Norwegian Viking Age

Fabulous Animals – from the Iron Age to the Vikings: Jewellery and weapons decorated with Scandinavian animal ornamentation.

Emotions in Antiquity and Ancient Egypt: Get in touch with thousand year old emotions face to face with sculptures and sarcophagi.

Transformation – Faith and Sacred Objects in the Middle Ages: Rare artefacts from Norwegian stave churches

Collapse – Human Being in an Unpredictable World: An exhibition showing how forces of nature can cause both collapse and new development in cultures.

Control – Attempting to tame the world: Stories of how humans and animals co-exist.

Heritage: (Opening Autumn 2022) 

The Arctic - Populations of the Arctic and Subarctic: Artefacts from indigenous groups throughout the Arctic.

Good as Gold - Coins are History: Norway's largest coin collection.

Egypt in Europe: Norway's oldest and largest collection of Egyptian artefacts.

America – Present – Past - Identity: About the identity of indigenous peoples and minorities when encountering the wider world. 

Visit Historical Museum's website for temporary exhibitions and changes in the program.

Longer opening hours on Thursdays
Free entry on the last Saturday of the month.

Norwegian name: Historisk museum