Further Information

The rescue of a collection in the wake of landslides

The Technical Museum of East Iceland calls for your help in the wake of enormous landslides that struck the museum on the 18th of December 2020. It is seen as a miracle that no lives were harmed in this natural catastrophe, which has left a large wound in the landscape and in the heart of the community of Seyðisfjörður. This event is the largest landslide that has ever hit an inhabited area in Iceland, destroying many houses during a week in which an unprecedented amount of rain has been recorded in Iceland. Such heavy rain and warm temperatures in December are highly unusual and can most likely be linked to climate change.

The loss of cultural heritage

The destruction that the museum is facing is enormous. The landslide completely destroyed two of its buildings as well as damaging other buildings and the museum grounds. A large part of its collection, the heart and foundation of every museum, was also hit by the landslide. Many invaluable objects carrying significant history, as well as historical buildings, have been lost forever and there is nothing we can do to change that. But several objects have been rescued from the debris, some in fairly good condition and others not. A highly time-consuming work is ahead of us to categorize, organize, clean, preserve and register what we can rescue. For this we need to pay salaries to personnel, secure a new storage building and buy the materials needed to ensure the best possible preservation conditions.

A lively working museum in a flourishing little town

The Technical Museum of East Iceland is located in Seyðisfjörður, a little town in East-Iceland, often said to be the heart of culture, heritage and hospitality in the region. It is situated between high and beautiful mountains that can, at times, be as perilous as the latest events bear witness to. The Technical Museum of East Iceland is a living museum that has focused on the influx of modern times from around 1880 to 1950. Technical innovations in areas such as mechanics, electricity, communications, shipbuilding, commerce, and architecture are interlaced with changes in lifestyle in Seyðisfjörður and in Iceland in general.

Many of the machines and tools were still in working condition and the museum has made it its speciality to offer guests, artists, and others the opportunities and facilities to use them, for example through workshops and courses in forging, metal-smelting, print- and bookmaking and knife-making to mention a few.

We can not do this alone

To be able to move forward with our work, save the museum collection and prosper again we ask for your help.