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The National Museum Of Iceland Photo By Szilas

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about the National Museum of Iceland

The  National Museum of Iceland was established on 24 February 1863 in Reykjavik, Iceland.  The museum was initially named Antiquarian Collection until 1911 when its name was changed to the National Museum of Iceland.

The museum was housed in various Reykjavik attics, among the attic of the Culture House for 40 years, before settling at its present location at Sudurgata 41,101 Reykjavik, in 1950. 

The Museum is open every day from Sunday to Saturday. This is one of the interesting facts about it since tourists can be able to access the museum any day. The opening time of the museum is 10 am every day and its closing hour is 5 pm every day. I recommend this museum to all tourists and is a must-visit location.

1. Give the History of Iceland in Detail

The role of the museum is to increase and add knowledge of Icelandic Cultural heritage from early nation settlement through to the present modern day to people.

 National Museum in Iceland is a place where you should visit to learn about the story of Iceland in detail. Here you will find in detail about the life of Vikings and the history, and culture of Iceland. The National Museum is the highlight in Reykjavik.

 2. Museum Contains a Collection of Photographs and Prints

The National Museum Of Iceland Photo By Szilas

The Nation Museum contains the largest public collection of images, collection of photographs and prints. When tourist visit they get to see and go through the photographs and prints and they help them learn about Iceland’s history.

Approximately, over four million photographs are stored in the museum both amateur and professional. The museum organizes shows to the public about Icelandic photographic history in general and has published books on photography as well to help people know more about the photographs.

3. Its Initial Name was Antiquarian Collection

When the national museum came to be on February 24, 1863, as a series of collections in several Reykjavik buildings, its original name was Antiquarian Collection.

However, the name was later changed to the National Museum of Iceland in 1911. Later in 1944 when Iceland became a republic Parliament decided to give the nation a museum at Sudurgata Street a new home for the collections.

4. It is Centrally Located in Reykjavik

The National Museum Of Iceland Photo By Szilas

The museum is located in the centre of Reykjavik hence you can locate many places from the museum. It is just a walking distance from the museum to most major hotels, and hostels not forgetting guest houses downtown.

No need to worry about where to spend your night, where to eat etc.  The museum is at the centre of the city hence you can access places easily with no transport fee needed by just walking. You can access hotels of your choice to grab food and drinks as well as a guest house of your preference to spend the nights anytime you visit this museum.

5. National Museum of Iceland is Located in two Different Location

It is interesting to know that the National Museum of Iceland is Located in two different Locations. Both of them a centrally located in the city of Reykjavik. The National Museum of Iceland is the main museum located at Sudurgata 41,101 Reykjavik.

The other museum is called the Culture House Museum. It is located at Hverfisgata 15,101 in Reykjavik city. The Museums are not too far from each other just a walking distance. You take about 18 minutes to walk along the path from one museum to the other.

6. The Museum is Opened on Daily Bases

The National Museum Of Iceland Photo By Szilas

It is interesting to know that the National Museum is open daily except during winter season the museum remains closed on all Mondays.

 This has made it easier for tourists visiting the museum since they don’t have to schedule a specific day to visit this amazing Museum since it opened daily. The Museum host both permanent and temporary on daily bases as well.

7. The National Museum Audio-Guide is Free

An audio guide is a handheld device which provides recording information for visitors touring a museum, gallery or other places of interest. The audio guide in the National Museum of Iceland is provided for free.

This audio guide is an excellent choice for people who don’t have confidence listening to the tour guide or love to be at their own company. It is as well provided in other languages apart from English such as Spanish, Danish, French, Icelandic, Polish, German and Italian to enable people who don’t understand English can as well tour the Iceland Museum and understand it using the language they understand.

8. Guided Tours are Available

In the National Museum of Iceland, they offer guided tours. This means you a provided with a tour guide to take you through the Museum explaining to you the importance, origin, history and Culture of the museum.

Tour guides are of very importance to the illiterate or children who can not read or listen to the audio guide for themselves. In this Museum guided tours are available for free on Saturday if you have an admission ticket, no need to book you just show up.

However, on the other days, you need to book in advance if you need a tour guide during your visit to the museum since tour guides are few and many tourists visit on daily bases. This helps you to secure your tour guide in advance.

9. The National Museum is Surrounded by Other Interesting Places 

The National Museum Of Iceland Photo By Szilas

Iceland Museum is surrounded by amazing and interesting places which help in the growth of the museum. When tourists visit the areas, they are attracted and visit the Museum helping in tourism growth and hence more foreign revenue.

Some of these interesting places include Tjornin e. The Reykjavik Pond, Holavallagardur Cemetery, Frikirkjan Church of Reykjavik, Reykjavik City Hall, Harpa Concert Hall, Althingi the Icelandic Parliament, The National Theater of Iceland, and The National Gallery of Iceland among others.

10. Located Next to the University of Iceland

The University of Iceland is a leading Icelandic university and an active  Participant in the international scientific and academic communities. The university is located in the centre of Reykjavik city near the National Museum of Iceland.

This helps the national museum to increase the number of tourists visiting daily because people visiting or in the university, most of them pass as well in the museum to learn more about it.