The Icelandic Emigration Center is a museum in Hofsós, on Skagafjörður in Northwest Iceland. It covers the emigration of Icelanders to Canada and the United States in the 1800s: who left, what they left behind, and what they found. The exhibitions are built on photographs, documents and family stories, and guiding in English is available. The museum also works with the emigration records, and the staff will look up an Icelandic family name on request.
Icelandic Emigration Center
Local name: Vesturfararsetrið
Give the staff an Icelandic family name and they will look it up in the emigration records.
- Advance booking
- Off-season by appointment
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–18:00.
- Address
- 565 Hofsós, Skagafjörður
What makes it special
The museum has one subject: the Icelanders who left for North America in the 1800s, and why they went. The displays follow families out of the fjord farms to Canada and the United States, and set out the conditions at home behind the decision. Guided rounds in English are available; ask at the desk when you arrive. The staff know the records as well as the exhibitions. With Icelandic ancestry, ask and they will look up your family name. The museum stands in Hofsós, on the eastern shore of Skagafjörður.
Good to know
- Guiding in English: available, but ask at the desk when you arrive rather than assuming it.
- Family names: with Icelandic ancestry, the staff will look your name up in the emigration records.
- Reading, not walking: the exhibitions are indoors and text-led, and a quick look through gets you little.
- Toilets are on site.
- Children are welcome, and the museum is set up for family visits.
Things to do nearby
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Frequently asked questions
What does the museum cover?
The emigration of Icelanders to Canada and the United States in the 1800s: who left, why they left, and what waited for them on the other side.Is there a guided tour in English?
Yes. Guiding in English is available. Ask at the desk when you arrive.Can the museum help trace Icelandic ancestors?
The staff work with the emigration records and will look up a family name for visitors of Icelandic descent.Is it worth bringing children?
Yes. The museum is set up for family visits, and there are toilets on site.Can the staff advise on the rest of the area?
Yes. The desk also answers questions about what to see and do around Hofsós, not only about the exhibitions.