I love outdoor history museums. The Norsk folk center in Bygdoy did not disappoint. The Norwegian King had entire neighborhoods and farms and other random buildings moved to this park so that visitors can experience life across Norway. We get there early.

I am excited to arrive at the Stave church before any other visitors. We are able to admire the dragon carvings and dark church interior undisturbed. Inside, a unique last supper scene carved in wood is the only adornment. Pillars and beams take up most of the space. Despite the exterior size, an interior gathering in this structure would need to be small and intimate. It is rustic and wonderful.

Even the storage house nearby, is a great example of the craftsmanship of expert wood carvers. There are dozens of these multistory sheds or barns on the property. Farmer’s storehouses expertly carved in wood with slate or earthen roofs are literally everywhere.

There are dozens of houses and farm buildings representing each region in Norway. While some are closed, most are open for exploration. This allows us to experience what a Viking cabin might feel like, complete with an open fire and beds in wooden stalls. We tour school houses, farm houses, coastal cabins, and apartment blocks. Ancient to modern Norway, traversed all in an afternoon.

In a gathering of Norwegian architecture like this, it is easy to see the evolution of carving and painted interiors. The farmhouse furniture is predominantly long benches and tables in open rooms. The city houses favor small rooms with small chairs tucked into snug corners.

After several hours of touring the houses and farmsteads, we walk through wonderful museum spaces filled with decorative arts. Ornate weapons, sleds, tapestries, chests, bowls, and other precious artifacts are span across time. Spaces hold interactive timelines and information about each preservation artifact.

Exhausted after several hours of immersive history, we stop to have a sandwich in the cafe. Of course I want a peak in the shops, but as I was doing so I notice one final exhibit. The recreation of Norways first parliament. If there is a building they left out, I don’t know what it could be. Today I walked farms, barns, schools, manors, cabins, prefab houses, apartment blocks, churches, shops, and more. Truly a wonderful museum in Oslo. There is no better place to time travel through Norwegian life.