Artur Hazelius
– Preserving Swedish Folk Culture at Skansen and the Nordic Museum

Photomontage with Artur Hazelius, based on photographs and drawings. Public domain.

💡 Summary
Learn about the captivating story of Artur Hazelius, the visionary behind Skansen and the Nordic Museum. Discover how his passion for preserving Nordic history and culture led to the creation of the world’s first open-air museum in 1891, a testament to Sweden's rich heritage.

Artur Hazelius: Visionary of Skansen and the Nordic Museum

Stockholm’s cultural identity owes much to Artur Hazelius (1833–1901), the pioneering folklorist, educator, and museum founder. At a time when industrialization threatened to erase Sweden’s rural traditions, Hazelius dedicated his life to preserving everyday life, crafts, and folklore. His two most enduring creations—the Skansen open-air museum and the Nordic Museum—remain among Stockholm’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

👗 A Skirt That Sparked a Museum

In 1872, Hazelius bought a handwoven wool skirt from Dalarna, fearing Sweden’s folk traditions were vanishing. That modest garment became the founding object of both the Nordic Museum and Skansen—launching a mission that forever changed cultural preservation in Scandinavia.

Early life and vision

Born in Stockholm, Hazelius grew up in an era of great societal change. He studied philology and history at Uppsala University, but his calling lay beyond academics. Convinced that Sweden’s traditions were disappearing, he set out to preserve not just artifacts, but the very spirit of Swedish life. His guiding motto, “Känn dig själv” (“Know thyself”), became a philosophy for the nation: understanding one’s past as a path to identity.

Posthumous portrait of Artur Hazelius created in 1910 by Julius Kronberg after a photograph. Public domain.

View from Skansen, ca. 1890-1900. Hand-colored photograph. (Public domain)

Hazelius's birthplace can today be viewed at Skansen. It was previously located on Surbrunnsgatan. Photo: Ben Bender (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photograph on salt or albumen paper, portrait of three young men in Uppsala, ca. 1850-1860. Standing at the back, Artur Hazelius. Photo: Mats Landin (CC0)

The Nordic Museum: A cultural treasure house

In 1873, Hazelius founded the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum) to collect and display Sweden’s material culture. Everyday objects, folk costumes, and household tools became central exhibits—reminders of how ordinary people lived, worked, and celebrated. The museum grew into a monumental institution on Djurgården, embodying Hazelius’s vision of history told from the perspective of the people.

The opening of the Nordic Museum in 1907. Crown Prince Gustav declares the Nordic Museum open. Public domain.

The Great Hall in the Nordic Museum on Djurgården in Stockholm. Photo: Arild Vågen (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Skansen: The world’s first open-air museum

In 1891, Hazelius expanded his mission by founding Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum. Historic farmhouses, churches, and workshops from across Sweden were relocated and rebuilt, creating a living village where visitors could step back in time. Craftsmen, farmers, and performers demonstrated traditional skills, allowing modern Swedes to connect directly with their cultural roots.

🏡 Artur Hazelius—Preserver of Swedish Heritage

By founding the Nordic Museum in 1873 and Skansen in 1891, Artur Hazelius transformed how nations think about heritage. He didn’t just collect artifacts—he brought history to life, preserving the crafts, dialects, and customs of everyday Swedes. His work inspired the open-air museum movement across Europe and beyond.

Scholarship and enduring legacy

Beyond collecting artifacts, Hazelius wrote extensively about folk traditions and dialects, ensuring that everyday culture—not just the lives of elites—was remembered. His work blended scholarship with a profound sense of national pride, helping Swedes navigate modernity without losing their roots. His methods influenced generations of curators and set the stage for heritage preservation worldwide.

🔎 Hidden History: Hazelius’s Private Collection

Before founding Skansen and the Nordic Museum, Artur Hazelius began by collecting humble everyday objects—wooden spoons, folk costumes, and peasant furniture. He stored many of these items in his own apartment, quietly building the foundation of what would become Sweden’s greatest cultural collections.

Visiting Hazelius’s legacy in Stockholm

For today’s visitors, Skansen and the Nordic Museum offer a unique chance to experience Hazelius’s vision firsthand. Walk through Skansen’s historic villages, see artisans at work, or explore the Nordic Museum’s sweeping collections of folk costumes and traditions. Both sites remain living monuments to Hazelius’s belief that history belongs not just in books, but in the sights, sounds, and stories of everyday life.

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Artur Hazelius

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Artur Hazelius was a Swedish teacher, scholar, and folklorist who founded both the Nordic Museum and Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm. He played a crucial role in preserving Sweden’s cultural heritage and traditions.