Tromsø University Museum

Tromsø University Museum (Norges arktiske universitetsmuseum) is a university museum located in Tromsø, Norway. Founded in 1872, it is one of the oldest scientific institutions in Northern Norway and has been part of the University of Tromsø since 1977. Initially established following a regional exhibition in 1870, the museum has grown from a small institution with limited professional staff to a cultural and research centre with a collection of about 2 million objects. The museum comprises four public departments: the main Tromsø Museum facility, the Polar Museum in the city centre, the M/S Polstjerna (a seal hunting vessel), and the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden at Breivika. Throughout its history, the museum has specialized in natural sciences, archaeology, Sami culture, and Arctic research, with the "Samekulturen" exhibition on Sami culture being one of its most significant and long-running permanent exhibitions since 1973. The museum attracts more than 80,000 visitors annually and continues to serve as an important institution for both research and public education.