Iceland review - 2004, Qupperneq 68

THE REYKJAVÍK ENERGY
MUSEUM
Find out where the pure energy comes from
It is one of the first questions on anyone’s mind when they visit Reykjavík for the
first time. They want to know how it is possible for the world’s northernmost
capital to maintain such an unpolluted and pure environment. The answer to
that question and many more like it can be found at the Reykjavík Energy
Museum.
The Reykjavík Energy Museum is located in the Ellidaárdalur valley, next to the
Ellidaárstöd Power Plant, which has taken care of Reykjavík’s energy needs since
1921. Since its establishment in 1990, the museum has focused on the history of
the capital area’s electrification and is one of the few technological museums in
Iceland.
The ways in which Reykjavík and its citizens manage their energy resources are
fundamental to their ability to sustain such a thriving metropolis in relative iso-
lation from the rest of the world. The Energy Museum serves a dual purpose as
a “teaching room and amusement park,” according to Stefán Pálsson, head cura-
tor.
For an added special treat, visitors on weekdays can visit the power plant across
from the museum. There, the curious can view machinery that has been in con-
tinual use since the plant opened in 1921.
Reykjavik Energy Museum
tel. (+354) 567-9009
email. minjasafn@or.is
STEPPING BACK IN TIME
Árbæjarsafn – the Reykjavík Folk Museum
The Reykjavík Folk Museum (Árbæjarsafn) is the largest open-air museum in
Iceland with a collection of over thirty traditional Icelandic homes. The collection
includes old style turf houses that characterised Icelandic farm life up until the
middle of the twentieth century as well as dwellings from the city of Reykjavík.
The oldest house in the collection is from 1820.
The museum was created with some of the many houses that were transported
from the city centre during various periods of renewal. Rather than destroy the
old to build the new, the people of Reykjavík simply moved the old. Their most
recent addition to the museum is the ÍR house, which was formerly a Catholic
church and a school gymnasium. The house was moved in April from its tempo-
rary location at the Reykjavík small boat harbour and will eventually be used as
a children’s play area.
Summertime in the folk museum is particularly exciting, with plenty of enter-
taining exhibitions and workshops about life in Reykjavík in the past. There are
many wholesome activities for families to enjoy, such as handicraft and haymak-
ing demonstrations. Other theme days are planned on Sundays during the sum-
mer, with exhibits of Icelandic herbs, Icelandic woollen sweaters, and antique
cars. On 17 June, Iceland’s independence day, the theme will be the Icelandic
national costume with a course given on how to wear the traditional dress.
The museum also offers courses throughout the summer in woodcarving and one
of the favourite national pastimes, chess. In addition to these, the museum offers
guided tours every day at two in the afternoon. The busy people at the Folk
Museum also plan to have a vegetable market on Fridays and on 18 July there
will be an accordion festival, celebrating the history of Icelandic folk music.
Árbæjarsafn
tel. (+354) 577-1111
www.arbaejarsafn.is
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