Småland’s Museum is Kronoberg county’s county museum. The museum offers a broad story with permanent and temporary exhibitions that together show Kronoberg’s cultural history in the past, present and future. Småland’s museum also provides lectures, events and guided tours that reach a large audience consisting of both young and old.
Sweden’s oldest county museum
Småland’s museum is Sweden’s oldest county museum. Founded on February 3rd 1867 on the initiative of folk life researcher Gunnar Olof Hyltén-Cavallius. The museum’s collections, on the other hand, are older and it all began with a coin donation to Växjö’s bishop Olof Wallqvist in 1792. From the beginning, the museum’s collections were located at a exhibition room in Växjö Cathedral, but the room quickly became too small.
The first proposal for a new museum building came in 1875, but due to a lack of funding, the plans came to a halt. A few years later, new measures were taken and then architect Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander’s drawing was approved. The building was completed in 1885 and the museum opened for the public in 1890.
Småland’s museum today
The original museum hall from 1885 still exists today, although it only forms part of the Småland Museum, which has been rebuilt and extended several times during the 20th century.
Småland’s museum continues to work towards the same goal that Gunnar Olof Hyltén-Cavallius had when he founded the museum – to shed light on Kronoberg’s local history and create interest and curiosity for it. At the same time, Småland’s museum is an important arena for modern cultural life and also draws attention to contemporary works of art and issues in the many temporary exhibitions.
Visiting address
Småland museum, Södra Järnvägsgatan 2, 352 29 Växjö, Sweden
