Skansen
Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay
The original and perhaps finest open air museum in Sweden, Skansen depicts authentic architectural buildings from different time periods before the industrial era of Sweden. The story began when Artur Hazelius travelled throughout all of Sweden and hand picked 150 different houses to bring back to the island Djurgården and put on display as a showcase of Swedish culture. They were deconstructed and shipped in pieces, only to be reconstructed on site in 1891. His main objective was to preserve the traditional way of life in Sweden.
Although it wasn’t the first open air museum, Skansen quickly became the model for all other open air museums in Scandinavia. In fact, the 75 acres of land even boast an entire 19th century town as it would have stood during its time. But the authenticity doesn’t end there: several trades and professions are re-enacted throughout the reconstructed town by people dressed in the clothing of the period. Bakers, glass-blowers, silversmiths, shoemakers, spinners, and tanners all perform their work for visiting crowds to see.
The island is also home to an open air zoo, where animals native to Scandinavia roam, such as the reindeer, red fox, wolverine, bison, wolf, moose, lynx, otter, and brown bear.
Although it wasn’t the first open air museum, Skansen quickly became the model for all other open air museums in Scandinavia. In fact, the 75 acres of land even boast an entire 19th century town as it would have stood during its time. But the authenticity doesn’t end there: several trades and professions are re-enacted throughout the reconstructed town by people dressed in the clothing of the period. Bakers, glass-blowers, silversmiths, shoemakers, spinners, and tanners all perform their work for visiting crowds to see.
The island is also home to an open air zoo, where animals native to Scandinavia roam, such as the reindeer, red fox, wolverine, bison, wolf, moose, lynx, otter, and brown bear.
