#History

About Greenland

A reconstructed turf house at Qassiarsuk in South Greenland, by Camilla Hylleberg

History

The history of Greenland goes back to ca. 2500 BC, when the first Paleo-Inuits migrated to Greenland through North America.

Qilakitsoq Mummies show life and death

The world-famous 500-year-old mummies from Qilakitsoq were found in a cave in 1972 by a couple of brothers who were out hunting for grouse.
Tjodhilde's church - a reconstruction of church from the norse presence in Greenland 1,000 years ago. By Mads Pihl

Tjodhildes Church

Tjodhilde was credited for Erik the Red’s conversion to Christianity and the building of the first church on the North American continent.
The axe of Leif Erikson - the statue overlooking Qassiarsuk in South Greenland, by Mads Pihl

Leif Eriksson

Leif Eriksson made ​​amazing discoveries and was the first European to reach North America. Nearly 500 years before Columbus.
A rune stone on a hill in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Erik the Red

Read more about Erik the Red’s saga; how he got exiled; his travels as well as his discovery and establishment of the first settlements on Greenland.
Mother of the SeaMother of the Sea. By Mads Pihl

The Legend of the Mother of the Sea

The legend of Greenland's Mother of the Sea is a fantastic origin tale of Greenland's wildlife with a morale of altruism and responsibility.
Painter Kristian Lennert from Sismiut at work in his home in Greenland - by Mads Pihl

Visual Art

Before europeans came to Greenland, visual art was made by means of natural materials like bone, tooth, antlers, skin, soapstone etc.
Mother of the Sea frozen. By David Trood

Myths and Legends

Learn how Greenland’s myths and legends are imbued with the country’s natural landscape, darkness and the harshness of the hunter’s life.
Man sitting on a sled in North Greenland. By André Shoenherr

Migration to Greenland

Read about Greenland's immigration, a great and exciting part of nation's history and colorful culture which has been influenced for over 4.500 years.
House in Sisimiut. By Visit Greenland

Dwellings of the Inuit culture

Find out how the hunter's life in unit culture affected their houses, dwellings and architecture as can be experienced in Greenland.
Houses in Radiofjeldet & Tuapannguit. Photo - Rebecca Gustafsson, Visit Greenland

Architecture in Greenland

When you arrive in Greenland, you quickly realize that Greenlandic architecture is very distinct, with its many colored houses placed on sloping hillsides. The big apartment blocks may have scared you off a little, and sometimes you stumble upon amazingly beautiful buildings, including some of the churches of Greenland.

Destinations

View from a Hill onto Ilulissat and the frozen fjord. Photo - Lisa M. Burns, Visit Greenland

Ilulissat

Nature, dog sledding, and cultural exploration await you in this iceberg paradise. Explore Ilulissat and its UNESCO protected Icefjord.

Articles

A sunset snowball fight in Kulusuk in East Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

Via Kulusuk

Start your East Greenland adventure at Kulusuk airport, one of the world’s smallest international hubs.
Hans-Henrik Suersaq Poulsen together with Bjarni Frímann and Miké Thomsen in the Post House. Photo by Jessie Brinkman Evans - Visit Greenland

Inside the 2018 Disko Arts Festival

We had flown down from Uummannaq two days prior, and had arrived in Ilulissat the previous morning. After a restful night’s stay at the Hotel Arctic, we took our bags and made our way down to the tourist dock, passed the hulls of old wooden boats in refit, and towards the young Greenlandic man standing by the gangway in a blue, quilted jumpsuit.
Northern lights over the Leif Ericson statue in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

What really happened to Greenland's vikings?

Many of us have heard the tale of troublesome Erik the Red, who found his way to Greenland after being exiled from Norway and Iceland for murder.
Traditional Dress - A drum dancer performing in Nuuk on National Day in Greenland

Drum and mask dance

If you enjoy seeing local culture close up, drum and mask dance is a completely unique experience that you will never forget. Its traditions have their roots in social, cultural and spiritual rituals which date back thousands of years.
The Family In Their National Clothing. Photo by Aningaaq R Carlsen - Visit Greenland

Symbols you'll see on Greenland's National Day

Today, on June 21st, we invite you to join us in celebrating Greenland’s National Day - wherever you are in the world.
Erfalasorput - Greenland's flag on a sunny day in South Greenland among rocks and flowers. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Greenland was Henrik Kauffmann’s triumph

Without a mandate from his home country, and quite single-handedly, a man struck a deal with the USA. This marked the beginning of ­an American presence in Greenland.
Sisimiut Museum. Photo by Aningaaq R Carlsen - Visit Greenland

The 13 Best Viewpoints in Sisimiut

The fact that approximately 30% of snowmobiles in the whole Greenland are registered in Sisimiut shows just how active the people of Sisimiut are, especially in the winter time.
Hans Egede Statue in Nuuk. Photo - Aningaaq R. Carlsen, Visit Greenland

300 years: Hans Egede's Mission and Legacy in Greenland

For better or worse, depending on who you ask, Hans Egede is one of the most influential people in Greenland’s history. Three hundred years ago, he arrived on our shores.
Langelinie polar bears. Photo by Giuseppe Liverino

Have some Greenland in Copenhagen

If you fly to Copenhagen but wish to pre-taste of the Arctic, you don’t want to miss this! This guide will help you find Greenland’s strong presence in the city’s cultural and historical sights.

Arnarulunnguaq: A tough woman in a strongly male-dominated universe

As the only female arctic explorer, she participated in the famous 5th Thule expedition from 1921 to 1924, led by the legendary expedition leader Knud Rasmussen.
Walk on path along coastline of Nuuk. Photo - Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland

Greenland's modern path to independence

Many people ask if Greenland is considered a country. Others question, Why does Denmark own Greenland? Read on to get a snapshot of Greenland’s political status and the historical background of Greenland’s road to independence.
Ruined vehicle with the landscape of Ikkatteq in East Greenland, where the Americans once had a military base. Photo by Reinhard Pantke - Visit Greenland

13 ghost towns in Greenland

There are many abandoned places in Greenland, and there are, obviously, several reasons for the abandonment: The hunting grounds moved, The natural minerals were used up, Forced displacement for military purposes, The need for a workforce elsewhere.

Local Providers

The collection’s main room. Photo by Kulusuk Museum

Kulusuk museum

A visit to Kulusuk Museum will provide insights on the life of the Tunumi Inuit of the east coast of Greenland.
Scandinavian Airlines, Narsarsuaq Museum. Photo - Peter Lindstrom , Visit Greenland

Narsarsuaq Museum

The museum was founded in 1991 and tells the story of the period as the American Blue-West One base from 1941.
Office Desk in Kangerlussuaq Museum. Photo - Filip Gielda, Visit Greenland

Kangerlussuaq Museum

The museum is an integral part of the Kangerlussuaq Airport, and is situated at the heart of the airport area.
Tupilak Travel Office, Nuuk. Photo - Peter Lindstrom , Visit Greenland

Tupilak Travel

We offer tours to Nuuk, the capital of Nuuk. The journey can be combined with overnight accommodation and excursions.
Ilulissat Museum is a museum dedicated to the famous Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen. Photo by Henrik Møller Nielsen - Visit Greenland

Ilulissat Cultural History Museum

The museum's surroundings are also used as an Open Air Museum with a variety of traditional Greenlandic means of transport.
Art Museum in Ilulissat. Photo - Filip Gielda, Visit Greenland

Ilulissat Art Museum

The Ilulissat Art Museum is based on former private art collection that have been given to the municipality.
The National Museum of Greenland 01

National Museum of Greenland

The museum is located in Nuuk and has exhibitions that cover all of Greenland’s history during 4,500 years.

Pages

Romantic Moment in Sarfalik, Nuuk. Photo - Rebecca Gustafsson , Visit Greenland

Christmas stories from Greenland that will make you warmer

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, we wish you a cosy Christmas with your loved ones. Here we invite you to discover how we celebrate a white Christmas under the northern lights in Greenland.