Þjóðminjasafn Íslands – Culture House

Overview

The Culture House (Safnahúsið) is an elegant stone building on Hverfisgata that displays Iceland's most precious medieval manuscripts—including key Saga texts—alongside rotating cultural exhibitions. It was originally built to house the National Library and National Archives.

Highlights

• Medieval Manuscripts: See original vellum pages of Njáls saga, Heimskringla, and the Prose Edda, among the most important literary documents of the medieval Norse world.
• Points of View Exhibition: A permanent exhibition exploring Icelandic cultural heritage through art, artefacts, and manuscripts.
• Architecture: The handsome 1906 stone building is one of the oldest civic structures in Reykjavík.

History

Built between 1906 and 1908, the Culture House originally served as the National Library. When the manuscripts were returned to Iceland from Denmark in the 1970s, the building became their primary exhibition home. It is now operated by the National Museum of Iceland.

Visitor Tips

• Duration: 30–45 minutes.
• Manuscript Context: The manuscripts were returned from Copenhagen in a celebrated series of transfers beginning in 1971, which became a defining moment of Icelandic cultural identity.
• Combined Ticket: Admission is included with the National Museum of Iceland ticket.