Gammlia Open-air Museum
Västerbottens län
Gammlia Open-air Museum is part of Västerbottens Museum located in Umeå, Sweden, and features about thirty historical buildings relocated from various parts of Västerbotten. The museum offers a vivid glimpse into how coastal farming communities looked and lived around the 1860s. Visitors can explore a variety of structures including a church, a manor house, a windmill, a school, and a blacksmith's workshop, all arranged to represent the region's cultural heritage. The museum grounds also include three traditional Sami dwellings, reflecting the indigenous culture of the area. The museum is staffed during summer, offering guided tours and daily activities such as midsummer celebrations and dance evenings. The buildings are generally open from mid-June to the end of August and during an annual Christmas market, while the outdoor area remains accessible year-round. Gammlia serves as a cultural and historical hub that preserves Västerbotten's past and educates visitors about the region's traditions and way of life.
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Tip: Visit during the summer months when the museum is staffed and buildings are open for guided tours and activities. Consider attending special events like the midsummer celebration or the Christmas market. Outdoor areas are accessible year-round, but indoor buildings have seasonal opening hours. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended during peak season. Some buildings can be rented for events such as weddings and conferences.
Interesting facts
- •Gammlia Open-air Museum includes about thirty buildings relocated from different parts of Västerbotten.
- •The museum features three traditional Sami dwellings representing indigenous culture.
- •The name 'Gammlia' derives from 'Gamli', a dialectal form meaning 'the old slope'.
- •The first building moved to Gammlia was Sävargården from Sävar in 1921.
- •The museum hosts seasonal events such as midsummer celebrations, dance evenings, and a Christmas market.
History
The museum originated from the Västerbottens läns Fornminnesförening founded in 1882, which decided in 1886 to establish a museum in Umeå to preserve regional antiquities.
The southern division's collection was lost in the 1888 Umeå city fire.
In the late 1910s, a decision was made to create a folk park with an open-air museum and sports ground on the north-eastern outskirts of Umeå, inspired by Stockholm's Skansen.
Enthusiastic local heritage society members began collecting buildings and artifacts, leading to the establishment of Gammlia.
The first building was moved to the site in 1921, and since then the museum has expanded to include numerous historic structures from across Västerbotten.
Place Guide
Sävargården1921
The first historic building moved to Gammlia in 1921, originally from Sävar, representing a typical 19th-century Västerbotten farmstead.
Traditional Sami Visten
Three Sami dwellings located within the open-air museum area, showcasing indigenous architecture and culture.
Arrest Building1720 (approximate)
A timber one-story building with two cells, originally built possibly in the early 18th century, later used as a military and civil prison. It was moved to Gammlia in 2016.
