Icelandic Museum of Natural History
Welcome to the Icelandic Museum of Natural History’s exhibition about water in Icelandic nature — this remarkable resource that is the foundation of all life on Earth.
The exhibition focuses on the diversity of freshwater, its myriad forms, its nature and importance for society, the diversity of the aquatic biota, and the role of water in making and shaping of the land.
The exhibition is visual, lively and constantly evolving. Special emphasis is on interactive participation with the latest multimedia technology.
The exhibition is tailored to the needs of variety of visitors – individuals of different nationalities are welcomed, as are families and groups. Museum educators take special care of school children. All school children in Iceland are invited to visit the exhibition to enjoy and learn about the wonders of water.
First and foremost, the exhibition is designed to inspire affection for the natural world and to inform about the importance of water as the foundation of all life and the need to use and treat water in sustainable way as a vital prerequisite for future prosperous life in Iceland and on Earth in general.
The exhibition is located in Perlan, this iconic landmark in Reykjavík.
European Museum Award 2022
The Icelandic Museum of Natural History received a nomination for the European Museum Award 2022. Sixty European museums competed in various categories. Winners were announced at the EMYA event in May 2022 in Tartu, Estonia. IMNH was nominated for its exhibition The Water in Iceland’s Nature in Perlan and for the museum’s vision.
Red-Dot Award
Three installations by the Icelandic multimedia design studio Gagarín at the exhibition Water in Icelandic Nature received the Red Dot award 2019 for design and production. The installations were judged to be “Best of the best” in the category “interface design and user experience” and the award was given for: the audio-visual installation “The Waterfall”; the real-time monitoring of rivers “The Meters” and the interactive exploring station “The Ecosystem Viewer”, all designed to capture different aspects of the exciting world of water.
The Red Dot international design award is one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design.
Exciting times ahead!
The museum is now at an exciting and significant turning point, as we look forward to opening a new museum and exhibition next year (2027) at our new headquarters in Seltjarnarnes, in the greater Reykjavík area.
The museum’s permanent exhibition will focus on the ocean and biodiversity, with an emphasis on marine ecosystems and the effects of climate change.
These are exciting times in the museum’s long history, and we very much look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing knowledge and inspiring curiosity about the ocean and the natural world.
