Steward of Norwegian skiing history
The Ski Museum is Norway's fifth largest custodian and communicator of skiing history.
The initiative to establish the Ski Museum was taken by the castle manager and architect Hjalmar Welhaven, and the core of the collection in 1923 consisted of his private collection. Later, systematic collections were made from all over the country, under the auspices of the museum's ski inspection committee. Objects from the great Norwegian polar expeditions, donated by Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, are an important part of the collection.
Today you can experience 5,000 years of skiing history in the Ski Museum.
Long history
The Ski Museum was established in 1923 in a timber building at Frognerseteren. In connection with the Olympic Games in Oslo in 1952, the museum was moved down to the ski jump. Parts of today's café are located in the original Ski Museum from 1952. The museum has undergone several renovations and expansions.
For the Ski Association's 100th anniversary in 1983, the Ski Museum was expanded with new premises shot into the mountain next to the ski jump. The architect, Arnstein Friling, was inspired by the Temple Square Church in Helsinki, Finland. In 1997, the museum underwent another major expansion, with a new square, entrance area and new shop.
On the occasion of the Ski Museum's 100th anniversary in 2023, the Ski Museum opened with a new foyer and café designed by Snøhetta. In addition, a new basic exhibition on the oldest skiing and polar history opened.