Welcome to the Museums for Coastal Heritage and Reconstruction in Finnmark IKS.
The coast of Finnmark is harsh and demanding and has a long and varied history. The first fishing villages appeared along the coast of Finnmark during the 1200s. At that time, fishing for cod and the sale of dried fish was the foundation for the settlement. Cod-fishing is still one of the most important foundations for settlement this far north in Europe.
But today’s fishing villages are modern societies with diverse business and activity. In our five museum departments you can experience real coastal culture, gain insight to local history, and get to know the life of the people who lived and still live in the area. Every fishing village and small society has their own unique history. Some of these are represented in the different museums along the coast. The focus of the exhibitions is coastal culture through the centuries to modern times.
The Museum of Reconstruction for Finnmark and Northern Troms is located in Hammerfest. The exhibition shows how acts of war in the period 1940-1945 played out in Finnmark and Northern Troms, as well as the situations for refugees and the reconstruction of the region. Here it is also possible to see what the caves, barracks and reconstruction houses looked like. Måsøy Museum is located in Havøysund, the centre of the municipality of Måsøy. The museum was established in a building that was originally built as a rectory. The collection of items consists in large parts of tools and technical equipment as used by fishermen through the 1900s. There are in addition several fixed exhibitions such as kitchen, living room, schoolhouse and line baiting booth.
The North Cape Museum is located in Honningsvåg, the centre of the municipality of Nordkapp. The museum presents coastal history through thousands of years, with focus on changes in coastal societies and culture along the coast of Finnmark as well as the development of the tourism industry in connection to the North Cape and to Finnmark. The museum has an old boat slip from the 1950s under restoration, and a provisory power station from 1951 with a generator from the German battleship Tirpitz.
Gamvik Museum is located in the fishing village Gamvik in the municipality of Gamvik. The museum is established in the old fish factory Brodtkorbbruket. A very important part of the museum is of course the museums old function and the history of the building. Also found is information on cultural heritage from the older stone age to newer times, coastal Samí culture, whaling and the Mehamn-uprising, the Pomor trade, war and reconstruction period. A nature exhibition showing animal- and birdlife in the Slettnes nature reserve is also in place.
Berlevåg Harbour Museum is located in Berlevåg. The museum’s main building is a restored storing facility formerly owned by the National Port Authority who built the piers in Berlevåg. Here you will be able to gain insight into the nearly 100 year long process of expanding the harbour. The museum also has exciting documentation on ship transport, fishing, the Second World War and the reconstruction.