On a pallet

Welcome to an exhibition of some of the unique objects that are rarely shown!

We show treasures from the museum's collections!

Svalbard Museum manages approx. 55,000 items. Just under 400 of these are on display in our basic exhibition, A Changing World. The rest are stored in our storage rooms in the Research Center, except for some items that are too large to fit there. The largest objects are kept in the former museum premises in Grisefjøset. We have now brought some of these objects to Binnekampen, to let the public see them up close.

In true Longyearbyen style, we have chosen to call the exhibition ON A PALLET, because that is precisely how several of the objects are stored, moved and exhibited. The objects have been chosen with care and are presented with all the information we have about them, the frames are otherwise simple and unfussy.

About the museum

The first museum committee was established in Longyearbyen in 1964. In 1969, 86 objects were collected in the old post office below the church. January 18th 1979, the first Board of Directors was constituted and in 1981 the museum opened it's doors for the general visitors in the old pig stable. The museum was officially opened February 20th 1982.

For years to come, the activity was based upon the voluntary work and commitment of the locals. Until 1998, there were no hired employees. In 1999, again in cooperation with the local community, the work towards beeing a "professional" museum commenced.

Svalbard Museum was organized as a part the local "Svalbardrådet" (Svalbard council), became a foundation in 2000 and in 2002, as a departement in the newly establised "Longyearbyen Lokalstyre" (The local council of Longyearbyen).

In 2006, the museum once again was formed a foundation and moved into the newly built Forskingsparken (Svalbard Science Park). Here, the museum has it's main exhibition, repository, offices and laboratories. The founders was Longyearbyen lokalstyre, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani AS, Universitetssenteret på Svalbard AS, Norsk Polarinstitutt og Sysselmannen på Svalbard (now Sysselmesteren). These are appointing the Board of Directors.