Draft:Troll Museum

The Troll Museum is a museum of Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore located in Tromsø, Norway. It is the only museum in Norway that is fully dedicated to trolls, mythological creatures pervasive in local folktales. Taking its inspiration from Old Norse myths, fairy tales collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, and Theodor Kittelsen’s illustrations, the museum combines history, legend and technology to teach about local beliefs and traditions.

History
The museum first opened to the public on September 1st, 2021 after two years of intensive planning and work. It is the first and only museum about trolls and fairy tales in Norway as well as the only museum in Norway that uses the technology of augmented reality (AR) to bring fairy tales to life.

Permanent exhibit
The permanent exhibit at the Troll Museum is divided in two parts.

The left wing of the museum is dedicated to land trolls; it starts with an introduction to Norse mythology and the role of different types of trolls in it before following the development of troll legends through history, focusing on the work of Norwegian folklorists, writers, and artists which was inspired by troll lore.

The right wing of the museum is dedicated to sea trolls; in addition to traditional tales of sea monsters, it includes tales of life at sea, the legend of the local Tromsø sea troll, Sami stories, and myths about other water spirits. The museum also has a small library with a collection of books about fairy tales, myths, and legends in multiple languages as well as a game room with various troll-themed board games, coloring books and other social activities.

Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality, commonly known as AR, is the process of using technology to superimpose animations, images, text, or sounds on top of what a person can already see. In our museum, you will find tablets that use this technology and with them, you can see animations of trolls and other fairytale creatures. Some parts of the exhibit can actually only be seen in Augmented Reality.

Activities
In addition to guided tours, the museum offers special programs for school classes and kindergartens. The facilities include a large gathering space which can be booked for private events including birthdays and other celebrations. Group excursions with a guided tour of the museum and catering before or after are also available.

Location
The museum is located at Kaigata 3 in downtown Tromsø, with facilities on the third and sixth floors. The entrance to the building is on the lower side, across the street from the port at Samuel Arnesens street. The museum is easily accessible by wheelchair. It is suitable for families with children and can accommodate large groups.