Eldheimar
About This Museum
People don't come to Eldheimar for a typical museum experience; they come to stand at the edge of a profound human and geological drama. The museum is built around the excavated remains of a house, still half-buried in the volcanic ash that consumed it during the 1973 eruption on Heimaey. You walk on metal grates above a frozen moment in time, peering into rooms where everyday life was violently interrupted. It’s a hauntingly intimate encounter with the raw power of nature.
Collection Highlights
The centerpiece is 'Garðhaus,' the home of Gerður Sigurðardóttir, which was excavated from the ash and left exactly as it was found. Alongside this, powerful photographs and personal audio accounts from survivors tell the frantic story of the island's overnight evacuation.
Visitor Information
It's located right in Vestmannaeyjabær, making it an essential stop if you're visiting the islands. Be prepared for a deeply moving experience—it's not gloomy, but it is powerfully sobering.
Architecture & Building
The building is a stark, modern structure of concrete and glass that feels almost like a protective shell or a scientific observation post built directly over the archaeological site.
Contact & Location
Address: Eldheimar, 10, Gerðisbraut, Vestmannaeyjabær, Suðurland, 900, Ísland
Phone: +354 488 2700
Website: Visit Website
