It would be sea and iron-ore that would decide Narvik’s fate. Despite Narvik’s location north of the Arctic Circle, the town at the head of the Ofoten fjord is an ice -free port. Narvik has been and still is a reloading point for a seemingly inexhaustible supply of iron ore from Kiruna in neighboring Sweden.
Museum Nord - Narvik tells the story of the rapid emergence of Narvik as a result of the demand for iron ore at the turn of last century. Along the Ofoten railway which winds through dramatic and spectacular mountains, more than a thousand million tons of Swedish iron ore have been transported since it’s opening in 1902.
When visiting the museum you can view the model of the historical Norddal Bridge, with its great steel structure hanging over a gaping canyon. A model of the old iron pier, also illustrates the technical achievements from pioneer days which laid the foundation for today's Narvik. Among the highlights of the exhibition is a film that gives museum visitors the sensation of a train journey along the Ofoten Railway. For those who would like to experience or visit LKAB in Narvik, the mining town of Kiruna, walking along the navvy road from the Swedish border to the bottom of Ofoten fjord and train journey, Museum Nord - Narvik will gladly assist with information and help in organizing tours.
Museum Nord - Narvik
Administrasjonsveien 3
8502 Narvik
Norway
+47 (0) 76 - 969650
Homepage
Narvik`s birth year was 1902, the year the railroad was put into operation to transport Swedish iron ore to Europe and the rest of the world. Narvik became a city the same year, and was named after the farm where the port facilities were built.
The museum is set in beautiful natural surroundings close to the town centre of Narvik. It is located in the old railway administration building that dates back to 1902, which in itself can be considered a museum exhibit. Visit the museum and learn more about Narvik’s past and present through photos, models, films and exhibitions. When the first iron ore quay was built over a hundred years ago, divers were a vital importance to LKAB. Diver expertise was also required, when the wrecks of ore ships that were sunk in the port of Narvik during the war in 1940, needed to be raised.
The Ofoten Railway and LKAB is still an important lifeline and industry of Narvik today, and is the main focus of the exhibitions at the museum. The Ofoten Railway is continuously under development and modernization. The railway line has now been upgraded to withstand a 30 tons axle load. Because of the continuous transport of iron ore, powerful locomotives are needed to pull 68 ore cars with a total load of 6800 tons of iron ore which is transported through rough, difficult mountain terrain. This ore arrives at the new underground silo plant at the port of Narvik. In the harbor, large ore ships await their shipments of ore to Europe and other parts of the world.
Admission: | Charge |
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Access for persons with disabilities: | For details see website |
Catering: |
12 August to 01 June:
Monday - Friday 10am-5pm
01 July to 11 August:
Monday - Friday 10am-4.30pm
Saturday, Sunday 12am-3pm