The 9 Best History Museums in South Region, Iceland

Skogar Museum, in Skogar, Southern Iceland, is a cultural heritage collection of 15,000 artifacts exhibited in 3 museums and 6 historical buildings. It's one minute from Skogar Waterfall, just off Ring Road 1. Skogar Museum is open 365 days of the year, and we look forward to your visit! Hours: June, July, August 9:00-18:00, September through May 10:00-17:00. The Folk Museum includes agricultural and fishery tools, boats and maritime gear, textiles and costumes, musical instruments, rare books and manuscripts, natural history, and fascinating Icelandic curiousities. The Open Air Museum includes a traditional turf farmstead, a 19th century gabled farm home, a home crafted from ship wrecked driftwood, a multi denominational church assembled from 16 regional churches, and of course a miniature turf home for elves. The Transport and Communications Museums document technologies transforming rural south coast farmsteads into a network of modern communities, with an exemplary collection of automobiles, trucks, highway machinery, telecommunication, radio, and rescue team equipment used over the last century.

Sagnheimar is the Folk Museum of Vestmannaeyjar, a new museum built on old traditions. In addition to the many artifacts housed there, today's technology gives the history and culture a new dimension. While the adults are learning about the stories of fishing, cliff hunting, the Eldfell eruption of 1973, and the Algerian pirate raid of 1627, the children can dress themselves in pirate costumes and search for hidden treasure in the pirate cave. Displays and exhibits showing the deep connection with the Mormons, the colorful sports history of the island, an old radio where you can listen to stories of life at sea and unbelievable tales of heroism and rescues, a "Festival" tent where the islanders entertain during the annual "Festival" can also be investigated.

Powering the Future is an energy exhibition on the diverse nature of electrical energy. The exhibition puts an emphasis on play and experience where the nature and characteristics of electricity are shown in multiple forms and guests are led through the world of electricity in new and creative ways. Guests are also introduced to the renewable and sustainable energy generation methods used by Landsvirkjun such as hydropower, geothermal energy and wind energy.

Can you imagine how it is to live in a cave? Well less than 100 years ago a normal Icelandic family did! The Caves have been renovated the way they looked when the last Cave People in Iceland lived there only a Century ago. Join us in a Guided tour in the Caves and their Surroundings and we will bring the story to life with amazing tales about how they lived, their struggles and their happiness.

The Women´s Book Lounge is an educational museum dedicated to the preservation of the writings of Icelandic female writers. The goal of the woman book lounge is to find and preserve writings from Icelandic women through the ages and present the authors and their work in our country and abroad. Icelanders and foreigners interested in Icelandic literature are welcome to visit the site at Eyrarbakki and to browse through the collection and read books during opening hours. Arrangements may be made for off-hour visitations by groups.

The Skaftfellingur ship Museum - a nearly 100 year old ship; - the ship´s equipment; - stories about 112 marine accidents that happened on the south coast of Iceland; - a video about the Skaftfellingur ship. We are located in Vík, across the Tourist Information Centre.

The Icelandic Wonders museum, takes you in a journey to the hidden world of the Icelandic Elfs, Hidden by most, they can be seen if they feel like it. We have a beautifull world of the Elfs inside our Museum, visitors get an audio guide, telling them some stories and facts about the Elfs, As well having an theatre showing a movie about the Northern Lights.

The museum has to offer old and not so things from house hold to farming. It is little bit of everything. We alsow have homemade Icelandic whool clothes, homemade confectionary and Icelandic baked goods. We recomend to contact us by phone or email, because we might be milking our cows or doing our farm work :)

Katla visitor center is located in Vík's oldest building and houses the local information center, Katla UNESCO global Geopark exhibition and the Hafnleysa (e.Harborless) Maritime museum. Learn about the unique local geology and the fascinating history of Iceland's only seaside village which has never had a harbour.