Exploring Oslo - Norway - page 118

excavated on the shores of the Oslofjord. The most spectacular find is the 9th-
century Oseberg, discovered near Norway's oldest town. This richly ornamented
19m-long (64-ft.) dragon ship is the burial chamber of a Viking queen and her
slave. The Gokstad is an outstanding example of Viking vessels because it's so
well preserved. The smaller Tune ship was never restored. Look for the Oseberg 's
animal-head post and four-wheeled cart, and the elegantly carved sleigh used by
Viking royalty.
For kids, the ships here conjure up the legend and lore of the Viking era that
flourished in the Middle Ages. We've seen kids stand in awe looking up at the
excavated ships long after their parents have taken in the exhibitions and want to
move on. Give or take some time for gawking, you'll spend about an hour here.
Huk Aveny 35, Bygdøy. & 22-13-52-80. Admission 40NOK ($5.70) adults, 20NOK ($2.85) children. Oct-Apr
daily 11am-4pm; May-Sept daily 9am-6pm. Ferry: From Pier 3 facing the Rådhuset (summer only). Bus: 30
from the National Theater.
NEAR OSLO
Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter (Henie-Onstad Art Center) Former
skating champion and movie star Sonja Henie and her husband, shipping tycoon
Niels Onstad, opened this museum to display their art collection. On a hand-
some site beside the Oslofjord, 11km (7 miles) west of Oslo, the museum holds
an especially good 20th-century art collection. There are some 1,800 works by
Munch, Picasso, Matisse, Léger, Bonnard, and Miró. Henie's contributions can
be seen in her Trophy Room. On display are her three Olympic gold medals—
she was the star at the 1936 competition—and 10 world championships. In all,
Henie garnered 600 trophies and medals, which can all be seen here.
Besides the permanent collection, there are plays, concerts, films, and special
exhibits. An open-air theater-in-the-round is used in the summer for folklore
programs, jazz concerts, and song recitals. A top-notch, partly self-service grill
restaurant, the Piruetten, is also on the premises. Plan to spend an hour and a
half here.
Høkvikodden, Sonja Henlesvie 31. & 67-80-48-80. Admission 80NOK ($11) adults, 30NOK ($4.25) visitors
ages 7-16, free for children under 7. Tues-Thurs 11am-7pm; Fri-Sun 11am-6pm. Bus: 151, 161, 252, or 261.
Norsk Teknisk Museum (Norwegian Technological Museum) This
museum showcases Norway's prime exhibits in industry, technology, transport,
medicine, and science. On the outskirts of the city, it opens onto the banks of
the Akerselva River. The museum also hosts the Norwegian Telecom Museum,
in which you learn such tidbits as how Viking Norsemen communicated with
each other using torches. The museum, which can be visited in about an hour,
offers a wide array of exhibits that provide fascinating information about energy,
gas, oil, electricity, plastic, and the wood and metal industries, along with clocks,
watches, calculating machines, and computers.
Kjelsåsvn 143. & 22-79-60-00. Admission 75NOK ($11) adults, 35NOK ($4.95) students and children, fam-
ily ticket 175NOK ($25). June 20-Aug 20 daily 10am-6pm; Aug 21-June 19 Tues-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun
10am-5pm. Bus: 22, 25, or 37.
Skimuseet (Ski Museum) At Holmenkollen, an elevator takes visitors
up the jump tower for a panoramic view of Oslo and the fjord, the great-
est such vista you are likely to experience in Norway. At the base of the ski jump,
the Ski Museum (Skimuseet) displays a wide range of exhibits, which are all a
favorite with families. They include a 4,000-year-old pictograph from Rødøy in
Nordland, which documents skiing's thousand-year history. The museum also

Kids