Kategori: Historical monument

Boom saw by Gjersøa river

Before the stairwell saw was introduced, you could only get two boards from each log by splitting it with an axe. With the rise saw, many planks could be cut from one log, which increased efficiency considerably. This was especially important for exports, as there was a great demand for planks and boards in Europe.

The saw by the Gjersjø river is a reconstructed version that shows how hydropower was used to power the saw blade. This saga is a great example of how technology from the Middle Ages was used to make efficient use of natural resources. Visitors can watch demonstrations of the saw each spring and fall, and learn about its importance to local industry and trade.

The boom saw played a crucial role in the development of the Norwegian timber trade and contributed to the growth of several small towns along the coast. It made it possible to produce lumber faster and more efficiently, which led to increased exports and economic growth. At the end of the 1800s, the boom saw was gradually replaced by circular saws, which had simpler mechanics and a higher cutting speed.

The boom saw we see here provides a fascinating insight into historical technology and industry. It shows how innovation and the use of natural resources have shaped society and the economy over time and is part of Norway's industrial heritage that helped build the country.

​​​​​​​There is also a Lokomobile sawmill on the site, a portable steam engine for operating a sawmill. In 1850, the first Norwegian steam engine was produced at Myrens Verksted in Christiania. At Ljansbruket, the first locomobile came in 1900 and it employed 20 men and the owners continued to expand the business and at its peak had 16 locomobiles. The locomobile is on loan from Follo Museum.

Car Museum – Eight Amcars Club

Halfway between the capital Oslo and Oslo Airport Gardermoen, you'll find a car experience like no other!

We host one of the world’s most unique collections of classic cars – over 100 rare old cars spread across two floors. This is a must-see for car enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates timeless design and history!

Opening hours:

Wednesday–Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.  Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Take a break in our authentic American Diner!

We serve ice-cold soft drinks, tempting ice cream, and delicious food – including the legendary burger named the best in the region by Romerikes Blad!

Don't forget to check out our shop for T-shirts, caps, and more.

EAC AS was founded in 1977 with the mission of preserving American cars from the nine brands that lost the battle against Ford and GM between 1946 and 1966: DeSoto, Frazer, Henry J, Hudson, Kaiser, Nash, Packard, Studebaker, and Willys.

Easy to find, easy to visit!

You'll find us right between Oslo and Gardermoen, at Asakveien 11, 1923 Sørum.

Free parking – including a paved area just for motorcycles.

Check VY for public transport options to us.

Looking to rent a car for a truly special occasion – or surprise someone with a historical ride? We can help!

Read more on our website

Get in touch – we’re happy to assist!

Member of Visit Greater Oslo 

 

Østfoldmuseene – The Halden Canal Museum, Ørje

The Halden Canalmuseum, Ørje
The Halden Canalmuseum is part of the  Østfold museums, and is located in the old wood grinding factory at Ørje Brug. The museum conveys the rich cultural and natural history associated with the Halden watercourse.

The Øsfold museums – The Halden Canalmuseum
In the heart of Ørje is the Halden Canalmuseum, where you can explore how natural forces and human efforts have shaped the watercourse through the ages. The museum takes you on a journey from the landscape of the Ice Age to the heyday of timberfloating.

Cultural history – the journey of the timber
Central to the cultural history exhibition is the log. By following its journey from the forest, through the river's waterways and up to the sawmills and wood mills, you will become familiar with the history of log timberfloating.
Meet the loggers, the rafters, the sawmill owners – and the canal builder Engebret Soot.

The Halden watercourse has been used for floating timber for over 500 years. The timber came from the forests in the north – of Nes, Sør-Odal and Eidskog, as well as from Swedish areas such as West Värmland and Dalsland, and was transported through the watercourse to Fredrikshald (Halden), where it was processed and exported to Europe.

At the museum you can also watch a film about the history of the river, made in 2016, which is shown in our small movie theater.

Natural history – the imprint of the ice age
In the museum's inner circle, the glacier leads you into the natural history section.The retreat of the ice after the last ice age shaped the landscape of the Halden watercourse, with lakes, rivers and wetlands.
This unique landscape is home to a rich diversity of species, including rare animal species – so-called ice age immigrants.

The museum has several aquariums where you can see freshwater fish, crayfish and other species from the watercourse, as well as the forest's birds and mammals – and for the extra interested: the tracks they leave behind.

The children's museum
Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum is an exciting place for families with children. For the little ones, the house in the “forest” is ready for play, while the slightly older children can investigate small animals in the exciting “water channel”.The outdoor area offers play equipment, and from the pier outside you can experience the boating life with the large steamboats that still serve Ørje.

Østfoldmuseene has museums and visitor venues throughout Østfold!
For opening hours and events, see our website
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for news, events and glimpses from the museums!

 

The historic Eidsvoll – soldi er by the bridge

Eidsvoll Station – the old station building

The first railway in Norway was built from Kristiania to Eidsvold. It was opened in 1854. The station had a wharf, so that goods could easily be loaded onto boats and transported on to Norway's largest lake, Mjøsa.

The kneeling soldier

The monument "The kneeling soldier" is erected in the "triangle" in Sundgata at the western bridgehead of the old Sundbrua over the Vorma, south of the old Eidsvoll station.

By Eidsvoll church, there is a beautiful statue of Henrik Wergeland's sister Camilla Collett. Camilla Collett became a champion of women's causes and wrote, among other things, "Amtmandens døtre", which is considered the first realistic novel in Norway. Camilla Collett is one of the very few Norwegian women who has ended up on a plinth, and there are sculptures of her also in the Slottsparken in Oslo, in the National Library and on the Strandpromenaden in Kristiansand.

The Wergeland Oak

In the middle of Åsleia you will find a very old oak that Henrik Wergeland himself must have had a special relationship with. In the picture you see a poem Wergeland wrote in May 1845, and which was published in Morgenbladet on May 24 1845. It is believed that Henrik Wergeland wrote the poem while sitting under this tree.

Member of Visit Greater Oslo 

The historic Eidsvoll – Eidsivagata 7

The house was built by Karl Mikaelsen Gaarder in 1896.

It was a men's clothing store here until March 1997. A men's clothing store is a store that sells men's clothing.

Gaarder's competitor. Petter Stefferud and his wife also ran a men's ready-to-wear shop in the house for a couple of years from 1918 to 1920, when they moved to Sundgata 3.

During the Second World War, it was Walter Johannesen and a companion called Harald T. Lunde who ran the shop. After the war, Gunnar Gaarder took over, and after him Øivind and Egil Finnbråten took over.

They moved the shop to Saga 2 in March 1997. After that, the store became women's clothing, when Sissel Lycke started a store called Sølveplet here. She held on until an Indian restaurant took over the premises, and after it went bankrupt, the shop has once again been women's clothing, now Shimmering Clothing.

In recent years, the Kaffehjørnet restaurant has also been located here, with outdoor seating in the courtyard. Current owner is Chriss Brohaug, source Jan Benjamin Baraas

 

 

The historic Eidsvoll – Myrvang gården

Helge and Julius Myrvang built Myrvanggården in 1927, on the property Solbakke, which was separated from Sundgaarden.

The architect and builder was Axel Bjørnstad from Feiring. In 1897, Sundgata 12 was built on the upper part of Solbakke, and Sundgata 14 was built in front of it.

The house is built diagonally crooked to fit the plot which narrows upwards towards Sundtoppen. This was a difficult task for the builder, and he is said to have stated that he would not build such a house again. The house is under construction, has 4 floors and the floor area is approx. 100 square. There has been business on the 1st floor, and on the 2nd floor there has been both business and housing.

The two upper floors have mostly been rental properties. Today, only the 1st floor is used for commercial activities.

Holmsbu Church

Holmsbu Church, built in 1887, is known for its unique artistic decoration. In 1911, an artists' colony began to emerge in the small community, which had previously lived mainly on fishing and shipping. Artists from all over the country, led by Henrik Sørensen, spent their summers in Holmsbu and created a culture clash that resulted in close relationships with the locals.

In 1954, the church was in need of renovation, and Sørensen took the initiative for the artists to decorate it as a thank you for the warm reception they had received. Without financial support from the municipality, Sørensen collected materials from Oslo City Hall, and 15 artists – with different religious backgrounds and experiences – contributed to the decoration. The result is a colourful and varied artistic whole that reflects the themes of faith and doubt, as well as local history.

The artists played with both biblical and local motifs; Erling Clausen placed the story of Peter's fish catch in Holmsbu, where local fishermen are depicted with human faces. Willi Midelfarth painted the Good Samaritan, represented as Albert Schweitzer, helping a man in a local ditch. Anita Greve, who had experienced trauma from the war, refused to paint sacred motifs and chose to decorate the pulpit with pre-Christian symbols.

Sørensen's view of the artist's role in society became evident during the inauguration of the ornate church, where he encouraged the churches to show solidarity and tolerance. His own contribution, "The New Jerusalem", with local women as models for angels, often sums up the common spirit that characterized the project. Holmsbu Church therefore stands as a monument to art, human experience and the profound questions that deal with faith, hope and community. The church is open to visitors during the summer and a half.

The artist Henrik Sørensen was the initiator of the large-scale decoration of Holmsbu Church where we find works by himself, Oluf Wold Torne, Åge Storstein, Reidar Fritzvold, Gösta Lovén, Anita Greve, Astrid Karlsen, Knut Hermod Knutsen, Erling Clausen, Willi Midelfart, Gunnar Bergstø, Kåre Øijord, and more. The church was started in August 1886, and was completed in March 1887.

"Linda L. Marthinsen and Frank Tangen received the Asker Municipality Culture Prize in 2024 for their work promoting the art and history surrounding the artist colony in Holmsbu"

Guided tours of the church is offered all year. For a guided tour contact Linda LM895@kirken.no / 95047416

Summer concerts

During the summer the church is open selected days and there are several musical events during the weekends. Tickets for the various concerts can be found at tikkio.com.

 

Production of salt – Blakstad

Salt was made by boiling seawater in large iron pots. The pot had to be large and as flat-bottomed as possible, so that the water evaporated as quickly as possible.
This required large amounts of firewood, but they had plenty of that from the forest.

There were various methods for increasing the salt content in seawater, by utilizing the sun in the summer and in the winter, seawater was frozen and the ice was gradually removed. Salt is separated when the salt water freezes into ice.

Salt water is heavier than fresh water, and this is especially the case at river mouths. Used hollowed-out pine or tree trunks were used to bring up more saline water from deeper layers. To prevent rain from diluting the seawater during the process, roofs were often built over the salt pan, so-called salt arches. There are 6 known salt arches along the Asker and Bærum coasts.

The historic Eidsvoll – the old bridge Sundbrua

The Bridge over the river Vorma – Sundbrua

Work on the Sundbrua began at New Year's time in 1922, and it was opened to traffic on 15 December 1923.

The bridges were cut and built up by hand from stone from the hill above Tynsåk, approx. 3 km. from the river. The bridge is symmetrically divided, with spans of 60, 70 and 60 m in length. The total length is approx. 200 m, approx. 100 m shorter than the previous wooden bridge.

 At the start of the Second World War, on 12 April 1945, the bridge was blown up to delay the German advance. It was repaired again during the war years, first temporarily with wood on 23 July 1940, later permanently. There was also a bridge here before this Sundbrua. This was a pile bridge, built of wood. It was opened for traffic on 17 May 1857, three years after the railway came to Eidsvoll. In the 1860s, a "tilting span" was inserted on the west side of the bridge, so that boats could pass.

The very oldest possibility to get across the Vorma was to be rowed across by a "sundmann"   Being a riverman could be a challenging job, because sometimes the wind was so strong that it was too risky to set out, and other times there was so much timber in the river that it was difficult to get across. In winter, there was often an open channel in the middle of the river, while along the shores there was thick ice where channels had to be cut for the boat. The first sundman whose name is known in the Sound was Kristoffer Sundmann in the 16th century.

 The name Vorma means "the warm one". The water in the river of Vorma is so warm that it rarely freezes completely in winter.