About the Foundation

It all began 150 years ago with an unusually tall and intelligent priest. Lars Landgren saw that the churches’ medieval sculpture treasures were being cleared out—carried off to bell towers or woodpiles. Understanding the questions of his time, Landgren founded the Hälsingland Antiquities Society in 1860. Church sculptures were gathered and relocated to the medieval church in Enånger, which became a church museum. But the pioneers also collected archaeological finds and curious objects like runic calendars and old weapons. Soon enough, these items were displayed in an old school building on Storgatan in Hudiksvall.

The 1860s and 70s marked a time of transition. Sweden was shifting from an agrarian society to an industrial nation. The old culture was perceived as being under threat, sparking a counter-movement. Interest in collecting and preserving cultural heritage grew—Skansen and the Nordic Museum were founded during this time.

In 1903, the Antiquities Society opened its first museum in Hudiksvall. Generous gifts and donations from various patrons greatly contributed to the expansion of the collection. Castle architect Agi Lindegren, who had roots in Hudiksvall, donated various objects to the Society over a long period. The largest donation came in 1928 after his death, when two railway cars filled with artifacts arrived in Hudiksvall. Lindegren also initiated a circular letter to prominent artists, asking them to donate works to the museum’s collection. As a result, works by Zorn, Carl Larsson, and others—some of the museum’s most frequently loaned pieces—were received. In 1922, the works left behind by artist John Sten arrived at the museum in what remains the most extensive art donation to date.

The couple Frans and Stina Rodenstam continued the collection of historical artifacts, and Stina became a national figurehead in the emerging handicraft movement. Over time, the museum outgrew its original space, and in 1937 Hälsinglands Museum was inaugurated in a renovated bank building on Storgatan. It was a significant boost for the cultural life of the region, which now had a permanent gathering place open to all.

The Antiquities Society ran the museum until 1949, when it was donated to the City of Hudiksvall. In 1980, the museum became a foundation, with Hudiksvall Municipality and the County Council of Gävleborg (now Region Gävleborg) as its principal sponsors. It remains a cultural meeting place—an arena where heritage is explored through exhibitions, conversations, concerts, and guided tours. Still located on Storgatan.