Viking Ship Museum (Oslo)

• 1. A Proposal For Wood And Stone

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  In 1913, Swedish professor Gabriel Gustafson proposed a specific building to house Viking Age finds. These artifacts had been discovered at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The Gokstad and Oseberg ships were stored in temporary shelters at the University of Oslo before this new plan emerged. An architectural contest was held to design the permanent home for these treasures. Arnstein Arneberg won the competition with his design proposal. The hall for the Oseberg ship received funding from the Parliament of Norway. This ship moved from the University shelters into its new home in 1926. The halls for the ships from Gokstad and Tune were completed two years later in 1932. Building of the last hall faced delays due to the Second World War. That final section opened in 1957 to house most of the other finds from Oseberg.

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• 2. The Burial At Tønsberg

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  Archaeologists excavated the complete Oseberg ship burial in Tønsberg during the early 1900s. It stands as the largest known ship burial in the world. The discovery yielded a completely whole vessel that remains the museum's primary attraction today. Excavation teams recovered thousands of items alongside the wooden hull. These objects included sledges, beds, wood carvings, and tent components. A horse cart also appeared among the grave goods found within the mound. Buckets and other artifacts filled the space around the ship itself. The preservation efforts required decades of specialized work before public display became possible. Scholars published detailed reports on the find starting in 1917 with Brøgger and Schetelig. Their work documented every textile and carving recovered from the site.

• 3. Vessels From Sandefjord And Tune

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  The Gokstad ship rests at Sandefjord while the Tune ship sits nearby in its own location. Both vessels were found as part of archaeological finds from their respective mounds. The Gokstad ship was discovered near Sandefjord and moved to Oslo for long-term storage. The Tune ship came from a different mound but joined the collection at Bygdøy. These three ships form the core of the museum's permanent exhibition. They represent distinct regional styles yet share common construction techniques. Each vessel tells a story about Viking Age seafaring capabilities. The Gokstad ship features a broad beam and sturdy oak planking. The Tune ship displays intricate bow details that survive intact today. Visitors can walk alongside these wooden giants inside the climate-controlled halls.

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• 4. Artifacts Of The Dead

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  Archaeologists cataloged sledges, beds, wood carvings, and other grave goods recovered alongside the ships. A horse cart appeared among the items buried with the Oseberg queen. Tent components and buckets filled the space around the main vessel. Textiles from the burial have been studied extensively by researchers like Anne Stine Ingstad. Her 1992 publication examined what those textiles had been used for during life or death. Wood carving experts documented every decorative element carved into the hulls and furniture. The artifacts provide insight into daily life and ritual practices of the era. Some objects show signs of heavy use while others appear ceremonial in nature. The sheer volume of recovered items required extensive conservation work before display.

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• 5. The Debate Over Relocation

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  On the 20th of December 2000 the University of Oslo supported a proposal to move the ships to Bjørvika. This plan sparked much debate within the museum and archaeological community as well as in the media. Opponents raised concerns that the ships are too fragile to survive transport undamaged. They argued that moving such ancient wood could cause irreversible structural damage. Proponents claimed otherwise and suggested a move could proceed without inflicting serious harm. The argument continued for over two decades between preservationists and urban planners. Public opinion remained divided on whether the ships should stay at Bygdøy. Critics feared that new construction might expose the vessels to harmful environmental changes. The decision ultimately favored keeping the ships at their original location.

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• 6. A New Home For NAUST

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  In 2015 Statsbygg announced a competition for expanding existing facilities at Bygdøy. The goal was to improve visitor experience while maintaining strict climate control standards. The winner of the architectural competition was announced on the 12th of April 2016. Danish firm AART architects won with their proposal titled NAUST. Their design integrates modern architecture with historical preservation requirements. The project aims to create better spaces for displaying the three main ships. It also provides room for future research and educational programs. Construction began after the announcement to prepare for the museum's reopening. The facility will remain closed from September 2021 until 2027 during this expansion phase.

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