Museum Board's autumn trip to Skógar and the Vestmannaeyjar Islands

In September, the Museum Council went on its annual autumn trip and visited the Folk Museum in Skógar and Sagnheima, the Nature and Folk Museum of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands, as well as other museums and exhibitions. The group consisted of the Museum Council itself, the directors of the main museums, and Museum Council staff.

At the Regional Museum in Skógar, the director of the museum, Andri Guðmundsson, welcomed the museum board and led through the history and exhibitions of the museum. The regional museum preserves and displays the cultural heritage of Rangæing and Vestur-Skaftfell, where various species are taught.

In the Maritime Department, there is an interesting collection of artifacts related to Southern Iceland maritime history. One of the highlights of the museum is the eight-masted Pétursey, built in 1855 and in use until 1946. The boat was specially built for surfers on the sandy shores of South Iceland.

Various other curious artifacts can be found there, such as a special number plate that was for a long time above the altar in Steinakirkja under the Eyjafjöll mountains, but the plate is from a coffin lid that must have been from the Indian Expedition. The Coat of Arms of Amsterdam who stranded on Skeiðarársiin 1667.

 The village is an outdoor exhibition area with a variety of houses from previous years, ranging from turf farms, a church and a typical school building from the early 20th century. There was also a look behind the scenes, which is no less interesting for museum enthusiasts to explore storage spaces large and small.

We then headed to Herjólf and sailed to the Vestmannaeyjar Islands where the group was warmly welcomed. The Museum Board visited Sagnheima/Vestmannaeyjar Museum where Sigurhanna Friðþórsdóttir, the museum director of Sagnheima, guided us through the museum's exhibitions along with Kári Bjarnason, the museum director.

The Sagnheimar preservation house was also visited and the museum's future plans were discussed, in addition, the group received a guided tour with Kári Bjarnason of the Skansen, the stave church and Landlyst.

The group looked around the SeaLife Trust/Sæheimar visitor centre where items from the old natural history museum are on display. There was also a habitat for mergansers and other fish as well as a sanctuary for injured puffins, where the Vestmannaeyjar puffin population is being studied. Finally, we visited Eldheimar before the group headed to Herjólfr and home.