Ilulissat Museum: Visiting Knud Rasmussen's Birthplace in Greenland

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The Ilulissat Museum is one of the best places to learn the story of this Arctic town on Disko Bay. Set in a red wooden house at the edge of town, it's the building where famous polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born in 1879. Inside, you'll find the history of Ilulissat, its people, and the explorers who set out from here to cross the Arctic.

Before it was a museum, the house was a school for catechists, the local church teachers who spread Christianity in Greenland. Today, it's a window into thousands of years of life on the edge of the ice, from Greenland's first settlers to the colorful town you see today.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF ILULISSAT:

The Ilulissat Museum is one stop on Ilulissat's Heritage Walking Tour, a self-guided GPS audio tour through the heart of town.

Along the way you'll learn:

Why Ilulissat was first called Jakobshavn
How the Saqqaq, Dorset, and Thule peoples survived on the ice
Which local explorer traveled by dogsled from Greenland to Alaska
What mattak is, and why you should try it

The walk takes about 45 minutes.

Check out Ilulissat's Heritage Walking Tour here.

WHO WAS KNUD RASMUSSEN?

Knud Rasmussen was born in this house in 1879. He grew up hearing Inuit stories, learning the language, and mastering Arctic survival skills. He became one of the world's most famous polar explorers and led the Thule Expeditions, including a journey by dogsled from Greenland all the way to Alaska.

He wrote down Inuit legends and customs, and he's known as the "father of Eskimology," the study of Inuit and Arctic cultures. He fell ill on his last expedition and died in Copenhagen in 1933, at just 54 years old.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE AT THE ILULISSAT MUSEUM:

Knud Rasmussen's story—Photos and objects from the explorer's life and travels.

Sermermiut—Exhibits on the ancient settlement by the icefjord, now part of the UNESCO site.

Kayaks and traditional clothing—See how people lived and hunted in the Arctic.

The outdoor museum—Old means of transport and a traditional peat house.

The Knud Rasmussen statue—A monument to the explorer stands outside.

TIPS FOR VISITING THE ILULISSAT MUSEUM:

Check the hours. They change between summer and winter, and the museum posts updates on its Facebook page.
Bring cash or a card. Admission was about 60 DKK for adults when our tour was made, so check current prices.
Visit the shop. It sells local handcrafts.
Pair it with the art museum. The Ilulissat Kunstmuseum is a short walk away and shows paintings of Greenland's icy landscapes.