The old town quarter of Sisimiut
The old town quarter is characterized by its colonial age buildings. As most of the towns in Greenland, Sisimiut has been spared of large fires. Consequently, a great deal of the colony administration buildings has been preserved. The greater part of these buildings belongs to Sisimiut Museum.
The former Colonial Manager's residence (B-23). The house was constructed in 1840. It now serves as the main building of the museum and holds alternating exhibitions on the second floor. The shop, ticket sale and public convenience are placed on the first floor. In addition, the building contains offices and storeroom.
The old shop (B25). This storey house was constructed on the spot in 1825. The construction of this building ushered in the intensified colonization that came about during the 1830'ties. The building now belongs to the museum and contains exhibition rooms for alternating exhibitions, as well as storerooms.
The former Commander's residence (B-32) is the oldest building in Sisimiut. The house was constructed in Norway, 1755. It was taken down right away and shipped to Greenland, where it was reconstructed at Ukiivik in 1756; on the first establishment site of the colony of Holsteinsborg, 40 km north of its later site, Sisimiut, to which it was removed in 1764. The house now belongs to the museum and contains permanent exhibitions as well as storerooms.
The former Assistant's residence (B-40). This charming little building is reckoned to be from 1783, but the details of its origin are unknown. The house was originally used for residence. It now belongs to the museum and is used for storage.
The halfway house (B-44) was constructed in 1844. This large storage building was to hold everything needed by the European colonizers and public servants during the long-term periods - particularly in the winter - when no supply-vessels came around. The house now belongs to the museum and contains part of its permanent collection.
The old forge (B54). The oldest part of the building dates 1845. Since then, the forge has been enlarged a few times. Earlier the forge had a very important task, that of making the iron hoops for all the barrels that were used to transport train oil and fish to Europe. The house now belongs to the museum and contains its workshop.
The former Missionary's
residence (B-113). The building was constructed in 1759 at Asummiut,
near the present airport. In 1767 the building was removed to its present
location. The missionaries lived here as far as to the middle of the
20th century. Since then, the house has been a nursery home and now
contains the town's tourist office.
The old church (B-114) is the first national church in Greenland. The local Greenlandic congregation commissioned it. Their means came from whale catching. On the 6th of January 1775 the church was consecrated and it acted as church until 1926, when the new church was consecrated. Since then, the building has held school and nursery home and is presently used as a preparation school for confirmation. The building does not belong to the museum.
The peat house (B-1485) is a reconstruction of what the traditional Greenlandic residence had developed into at the early 20th century and is arranged as such. Surrounding the peat house stands a traditional summer tent of skin, a kayak rack and play kayaks of stone. The peat house belongs to the museum.