Finnmark » Vadsø Museum

Vadsø Museum

Vadsø museum-Ruija kvenmuseum is responsible for local- and kven history. The Kvens were Finnish speaking immigrants from Finland and Sweden who settled in Northern Norway during the 1700s and 1800s. The highlight of the exhibition is Tuomainengården or Viinikkagården, which is a Kven town dwelling from the 1850s consisting of a house, stable, sauna, bakery, shop and smithy, all under the same roof.

The museum has several buildings giving evidence of the multicultural region, showing Vadsø as a fishing village, merchant town and agricultural area. At the Vadsø Island, you’ll find the Vadsø Culture Park and the exhibition ”Airships and Boats” on the harbour terminal. It tells about expeditions over the North Pole and the fisheries in the Varanger Fjord.