Hemsedal Historielag
Hemsedal Historical Society preserves the stories, photographs and local knowledge that tell the story of Hemsedal. Throughout the year, the society also hosts history cafés and other events where stories from the valley are shared and brought to life.
Hemsedal Historical Society – the stories that have shaped the valley
Who lived here before us? Where do the old place names come from? And how did Hemsedal develop from a small mountain village shaped by farming and summer mountain farms into the destination we know today?
Hemsedal Historical Society preserves the stories, photographs and local knowledge that tell us where Hemsedal comes from.
Founded in 1999, the society works to collect, document and share Hemsedal's history – both the stories of the past and the history being created around us today. An important part of its work is Hemsedal's local archive, where historical photographs, documents and other material are collected and preserved for future generations.
A treasure trove of photographs and stories
Hemsedal's local archive contains thousands of historical photographs from the valley. Explore Hemsedal as it once was and discover the people, farms, summer mountain farms, working life and everyday moments of another time.
The society also works to preserve cultural heritage, old routes and trails, local place names and stories passed down through generations. Together with Hemsedal Municipality and the Language Council of Norway, the society has helped register 3,873 local place names from Hemsedal – names that often carry small pieces of the valley's history within them.
Through historical walks, themed evenings, books, films and events, Hemsedal Historical Society brings local history to life for residents, second-home owners and visitors who are curious to discover more about the people and places that have shaped the valley.
Because Hemsedal isn't only about where we're going.
It's also about where we come from.
