About this place
Perspektivet Folkeparken is an open-air museum in Tromsø, set in a quiet park at the southern end of the island of Tromsøya. A group of historic wooden buildings here shows how people lived and traded in northern Norway in earlier times. The grounds are open and unfenced, so you can wander between the houses at your own pace.
What is Folkeparken?
It is the outdoor branch of the Perspektivet Museum in Tromsø. The first building on the site was put up in 1963 by Troms Folkemuseum, the former regional museum. Perspektivet Museum took over the grounds in 1996 and still looks after the buildings and runs exhibitions in them.
What can you see here?
The buildings form two clusters. One is the former trading post Kvitnesgården, whose large white main house dates from 1826. The other is the coastal farm Mortengården. The structures were moved here from Tromsø and neighbouring municipalities: Balsfjord, Karlsøy and Ibestad. This lets the museum show several variations of the region's traditional architecture rather than a single village.
Inside, there are exhibitions. Kvitnesgården hosts "Lovely Beings" and "The Tasselled Parlour", while the boathouse holds "In Cod We Trust", which looks at the importance of cod to the northern economy.
When can you go inside?
The interiors open in summer, on Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00, between 21 June and 23 August. Schedules can change, so check the museum's website before you go. Outside opening hours you can still see the buildings from outside and stroll through the park.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to enter the grounds? The park is not fenced and you can walk around freely. Check with the museum for conditions on entering the interiors.
Where is Folkeparken? At the southern end of Tromsøya, in a calm, green part of the city.
Where do the buildings come from? From Tromsø and from the municipalities of Balsfjord, Karlsøy and Ibestad.
Who is it for? Anyone interested in the history of northern Norway, fishing and trading culture, or wooden architecture. It makes a peaceful stop on a walk around Tromsø, especially in summer when the interiors are open.
How long should I plan? About an hour is usually enough to walk around the buildings and look into the exhibitions, a little more if you linger in the park.
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