A New Museum in Norway Is Bringing Visitors Into the World of Whales—From Life-Size Orcas to Immersive Underwater Exhibits

A new museum in Norway, called "The Whale," is set to open in Andenes, a village on the northern tip of the island of Andoya, in 2027. This museum will bring visitors into the world of whales through various exhibits, experiences, and architectural design. The building itself is an integral part of the experience, rising like a hill from the rocky shore and featuring a low, curved concrete roof covered in stones, which doubles as a viewing platform for spotting whales.

Inside, the museum will be divided into several "experience areas," including displays of life-size wooden sculptures of individual orcas, a massive suspended whale sculpture, and galleries dedicated to the evolution of whales, their anatomy, and their social behavior. Another gallery will offer an immersive underwater experience, showcasing the ocean food web and the interconnectedness of marine life.

The museum will also explore humanity's relationship with whales, including the history and consequences of industrial whaling, as well as the cultural significance of whales throughout history. A final gallery, called Horizons, will examine how whale habitats and migration routes intersect with human activities such as shipping. In addition to these exhibits, the museum will have a café and restaurant, serving as a gateway to whale-watching tours in Bleik Canyon, an underwater trench with nutrient-rich waters.