An outdoor exhibition on geology. Join us on a geological journey through time where children can touch and feel various stones.
In the Stone Garden, Norway's geological history through 3 billion years is explored through large, colourful rocks and impressive structures. Visitors learn how to interpret rocks to understand their origins, as well as the connection between geology and important mineral resources such as metals.
The Stone Garden is free and open to everyone, but the main target audience is children. The exhibition is designed in a way that allows children to discover the world of rocks through their senses and movement.
Pictures from Stone Garden
The Stone Garden's three parts
The Stone Amphitheater
The amphitheater is constructed with sandstone from Ringerike and contains embedded stone blocks that display traces from the last Ice Age. It serves as a gathering place for school classes and others, offering the possibility to host events, whether focused on culture or nature. The amphitheater also serves as the starting point for this journey of Norway's geological history.
The Stone path
29 large, impressive stones tell us the 3 billion-year-long story of how Norway came to be. There have been mountain ranges that have risen from the sea, volcanic eruptions, and formation of ore deposits. We see evidence of the first traces of life and the largest increase in the number of multicellular organisms in the history of Earth. We also explore how new Earth's crust has formed, and we see remnants of enormous mountain ranges.
Rest areas and sculptures
Tables and benches made of flat stones surrounded by extra large, colourful, and sculptural stones. One stone comes from the restoration workshop of Nidaros Cathedral and displays small animal sculptures created by sculptors for Nidaros Cathedral. Halfway along this stretch, the largest stone in Steinhagen will be placed—a sculpture in larvikite crafted by sculptor Martin Kuhn.
Meet Petter the toad
One of the stones in Steinhagen is a soapstone where various figures, such as Petter the toad have been carved. The stone is shaped by stonemasons at the Nidaros Cathedral Restoration Works.
Facts about the project
- Permanent outdoor exhibition on geology
- 34 stones that tell the geological history of Norway over 3 billion years
- Divided into three parts - Stone Amphitheater, Stone Path, and Rest Areas
- Area: approximately 1000 m2
- Landscape architect: Landskaperiet in collaboration with the Natural History Museum
- Funded by Sparebankstiftelsen DNB
- All stones have been donated to the museum by private landowners, mining companies, and institutions.