Permanent Exhibition
The Making of a Nation
The National Museum of Iceland’s permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland, is intended to provide insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the Settlement to the present day.
The aim is to cast light on the Icelanders’ past by placing the cultural heritage preserved by the National Museum in a historical context, guided by the question: What makes a nation?
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Temporary Exhibitions
Hjálmar R. Bárðarson in black and white
Hjálmar R. Bárðarson was a productiv amateur photographer and published a number of books with photographs of Iceland and the Icelandic people. This exhibition shows a variation of black and white photos from his collection, both landscape and artistic pieces.
It‘s all equally bad for you
The history of tobacco and the battle against it in Iceland.
Fashion – Gorgeous Gowns
Icelandic dresses from ca. 1947-1970. Each dress is a unique creation. Most are “model“ dresses or couture, made to order for the client. Some of the dresses in the exhibition are from the National Museum collection, while others are privately owned. The Museum has been collecting twentieth-century garments for some time, with the focus on Icelandic craftsmanship and production. The dresses contributed by private owners were selected to reflect, on the one hand, changing fashions, and on the other the women who wore the dresses: a couture gown is not complete until it is worn by the right woman.
Mrs. Magnea Þorkelsdóttir's needlework
Mrs. Magnea Þorkelsdóttir was a great and well-known seamstress. She made a number of national costumes for both herself and her family. On display are selected costumes from the collection of the family.
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