Lecture tour in Vesterålen
Published 30 September 2026
Liv Helene Willumsen and Gøril Karlsen have been on a lecture tour in Vesterålen
19 May 2025
Sørvågen Radio ? A telecommunications museum is more than just a telecommunications museum in West Lofoten; It is a vivid reminder of an already bygone era and technology, which was essential to the development of today’s telecommunications. In this small fishing village, the telegraph was not only a workplace, but also a place for several important milestones in the development of telecommunications, and countless stories waiting to be told.
Telegraph
The museum is located in the old telegraph building, known locally as the “Tele Building,” which is a historical gem in itself. The building was designed by Lilla Georgine Hansen, Norway’s first female architect with her own practice, and was completed in 1914. The station was automated in 1978, and then was placed under Bodø Radio. The last telegraph operator at Sørvågen was Peter Kjell Hansen Øye.
The museum opens
Since its opening on 1 May 1996, the museum has conveyed this rich history, and next year it will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The idea for the museum came from Moskenes History and Museum Association, with support from Moskenes Municipality and Telenor/Norwegian Telemuseum. Telecommunications engineer Jarle Korneliussen, who started working in Sørvågen as a postman, and Jan Wanggaard have been central to the realization. The exhibition is designed by Jan Wanggaard.The exhibition gives an insight into the past through a collection of telephone sets, Morse machines and telegraphs, coastal radio, a telephone exchange and several memories from the telegraph operation at Hell on the Outer Side. Visitors can also learn about why Sørvågen was such an important telecommunications hub in Lofoten, and how the vital Lofoten fishery influenced this development. It is interesting to note that the museum’s opening took place on the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the wireless telegraph line between Sørvågen and Røst ? a groundbreaking event of its time.
Although the museum is currently working on window restoration, its doors will reopen to the public on Monday, June 2 at 09:00.The museum is open during the summer and keeps its doors open five days a week throughout the summer. Keep an eye on our pages for detailed information on opening hours.
