Ishavsmuseet Aarvak

Ishavsmuseet Aarvak (also known as Eismeermuseum Aarvak) is a museum located in Brandal on the island of Hareidlandet in western Norway. Founded in 1981, it documents the history of sealing and other activities in the Arctic regions. Its main attraction is the polar ship Aarvak, built in 1912, which served as a sealing vessel until 1981 and has been displayed in its own ship hall since June 2009. The museum also houses around 600 exhibits, including taxidermied Arctic animals such as musk ox, polar wolf, Arctic fox, polar bear, seals and Arctic birds. The museum building itself was constructed in the 1950s as a warehouse for polar ship equipment and as a workshop for processing seal skins. In addition to its exhibitions, the museum hosts cultural and culinary events, such as fårikål dinners, polar evenings with lectures, seafood buffets, lutefisk meals and potato dumpling servings, as promoted on its official website. The museum is a member of the Norwegian museum network and serves as a regional heritage institution.

Ishavsmuseet Aarvak was founded in 1981 in Brandal, a village on the island of Hareidlandet in western Norway. Brandal had been a centre of sealing in western Norway since 1898, when Peter S. Brandal pioneered the activity by sailing from Ålesund with fishing cutters to Arctic sealing grounds. He later established factories in Brandal for the production of seal and herring oil. During World War I, Peter S. Brandal joined other shipowners to found the mining company Kings Bay Kull Comp A/S in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen. He was knighted in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1919. Up to 47 polar ships were based in Brandal, and the economic peak came in the late 1920s when 75 polar ships from western Norway participated in sealing and more than 1,000 men were employed in the industry. Sealing was dangerous: from 1924 to 1939, 115 polar ships were lost to ice pressure or storms. The museum building itself was constructed in the 1950s as a warehouse for polar ship equipment and as a workshop for processing seal skins. The museum's main attraction is the polar ship Aarvak, built in 1912 in Bergen. Its hull shape was unusual for Norwegian polar ships until after World War II. The ship measures 90 feet long, 21.6 feet wide and has a draught of 10.6 feet, originally powered by a 74 hp steam engine. It was rebuilt several times, including lengthening to 112.8 feet in 1956. In 1948 the steam engine was replaced by a 400 hp Crossley diesel engine, which in turn was replaced in 1964 by a 600 hp Wichmann diesel engine that remains today. The Aarvak operated as a sealing vessel from 1912 to 1981. Since 1981 it has been part of the museum, and since June 2009 it has been displayed in its own ship hall. In October 2012, adventurer Ragnar Thorseth received his own exhibition at the museum, displaying equipment, ship and boat models, and photographs from his numerous expeditions. The museum also houses around 600 exhibits, including taxidermied Arctic animals such as musk ox, polar wolf, Arctic fox, polar bear, seals and Arctic birds. Today the museum functions as a cultural and culinary venue, hosting events such as fårikål dinners, polar evenings with lectures, seafood buffets, lutefisk meals and potato dumpling servings, as promoted on its official website.

• 2012

  In October, adventurer Ragnar Thorseth receives his own exhibition at the museum.

• 2009

  In June, the Aarvak is placed on display in its own ship hall.

• 1981

  Ishavsmuseet Aarvak is founded; the Aarvak ends its sealing service and becomes part of the museum.

• 1964

  A 600 hp Wichmann diesel engine is installed on the Aarvak.

• 1956

  The Aarvak is lengthened to 112.8 feet.

• 1948

  The Aarvak's steam engine is replaced by a 400 hp Crossley diesel engine.

• 1919

  Peter S. Brandal is knighted in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.

• 1912

  The polar ship Aarvak is built in Bergen.

• 1898

  Brandal becomes a centre of sealing in western Norway, pioneered by Peter S. Brandal.

A regional heritage museum focused on Arctic sealing history and the preservation of the polar ship Aarvak.

• Polar ship Aarvak

  Built in 1912, served as a sealing vessel until 1981, displayed in its own ship hall since June 2009.

• Arctic animal exhibits

  Around 600 exhibits including taxidermied musk ox, polar wolf, Arctic fox, polar bear, seals and Arctic birds.

• Ragnar Thorseth exhibition

  Opened in October 2012, displaying equipment, ship and boat models, and photographs from his expeditions.

1. 1Ishavsmuseet Aarvak official websiteishavsmuseet.no
2. 2Eismeermuseum Aarvak - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ishavsmuseet Aarvak - Wikidatawikidata.org