Velfjord Museum

The Brønnøy and Velfjord districts share an ancient history of fishing and farming, as well as a proud indigenous Sámi culture. You can gain many cultural insights by visiting the exhibitions in the old supermarket at Minnetun, as well as in the goahti (reconstructed turf hut) near here.

The Velfjord rural museum highlights life on a farm in the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum comprises 13 buildings and 10,000 objects, including objects that reveal the culture of the indigenous Sámi people.

The former supermarket

The building that once housed the supermarket in Hommelstø now invites you to see the museum exhibitions and events, visit the café and wander new shops. There is also a mysterious old rucksack that remains unopened; it was given to the museum in 1949 with a clear warning: “Ill shall befall whoever opens the rucksack.” Today it is part of the exhibition “Drivkraft/Juhtiehtidh.”

Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum

Idyllically situated by the fjord, the museum also has an exhibition on the natural resources of the area, and how these have been the basis for people’s livelihood since time immemorial.

Minnetun

Just a few kilometers from the old Cooperative in Strøm lies Minnetun, the cradle of Velfjord Rural Museum. Established by the Velfjord Historical Society in 1953, this beautiful site features a collection of buildings and artifacts from the farming and fishing cultures. The collection includes a rich array of old farm tools, boats, and household items used in daily life and crafts. The buildings are open during the summer season and guided tours are available for visitors. Here, you can also find the Southern Sami tent, derhvie-gåetie.

The goahti – a turf hut

Over the years, there have been numerous Sami settlements in South Helgeland. In 2019, the Velfjord Historical Society constructed a kåte (a traditional Sami tent) with an associated storage hut/njalla and cellar, located a few hundred meters from Minnetunet in Strøm. Derhvie-gåetie is open year-round and available for anyone wishing to visit and perhaps brew some campfire coffee.

Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum

The buildings belonging to Velfjord Rural Museum/Brønnøy Museum are set in a picturesque landscape characterized by forests, mountains, and fjords.