Polarmuseet, Tromsø

The Polar Museum is a museum in Tromsø that takes care of and conveys stories related to Norwegian catches, Arctic science and polar expeditions.

The museum was opened on June 18, 1978, exactly 50 years after Roald Amundsen embarked on his last and fateful journey by airboat Latham. The museum is located in one of Tromsø's oldest houses from the early 1800s, the wooden buildings that formerly housed the Customs Service's packing house and customs stalls near Skansen in Søndre Tollbodgate 11 Tromsø. The buildings of the 1840s are protected by the National Antiquarian.

Tromsø established itself as the gate of the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic from about 1850. The city quickly became a central base for polar expeditions in catching, science and adventure/tourism. The Polar Museum conveys stories related to this part of Tromsø City and Arctic history.

In 2013, CNN set up a list of the world's 10 best cities for a winter break, where Tromsø was included. CNN wrote: “There are several fascinating museums, including the Polar Museum that provide an insight into previous Arctic expeditions.