The west entrance of Skansen, September 2025
Opened in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, Skansen on Stockholm's green island of Djurgården is the world's oldest open-air museum. Hazelius wanted to show Sweden before the industrialisation, and under his leadership the museum started to collect historic architecture from all over the country. After that, the name Skansen was borrowed for many other open-air museums in Central and Eastern Europe. E.g. it is a common name for a historic open-air museum in Poland.
More than 130 years after the start, Skansen (www.skansen.se) has grown into Sweden's most popular museum, with about 1.4 million visitors annually in the past three years. It has become more than just a collection of buildings, as Nordic wildlife can be seen up close as well. And Skansen is the stage of the biggest national sing along event during summer, aired on Swedish TV, with the stage high up the hill overlooking the lower parts of Central Stockholm.
The photos of this story are from my most recent trip to Skansen, in September 2025.
Ekshäradsgården, the estate house from Norra Skoga, in the Ekshärads area of the Värmland region, from the 1820s. Located at Skansen since 1953.
Around the year 1800, soldiers lived in this cabin in Säldefall, in the Kalmar Region. It was moved to Skansen in 1905, and rebuild in 1920.
The Seglora Church, built between 1729 and 1780 in Seglora, Marks härad, Västergötland region. Moved to Skansen in 1916.
The Torslunda Mill (Torslundakvarnen) from the island of Öland, moved to Skansen in 1922.
Linberedningsverket, the factory that turned flax into linen—or did at least part of the process—with water power. From the beginning of the 1800s from Nansta, Forsa area of Hälsingland. Moved to Skansen in 1918.
Life of the 1800s meets 2025.
Washing board.
Explaining how things worked.
A lady in character of the 1800s with a basket on her arm.
Hanging out to dry.
... more photos of Skansen coming soon ...