Ski Jump in Oslo, Norway Poster

"Ski Jump in Oslo, Norway" by Catherine Sherman. A statue of Fridtjof Nansen stands prominently in the foreground with a backdrop of misty foliage and two Norwegian flags flying. Behind the sculpture is the top of the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, Norway. On a clear day, Oslo can be viewed from the ski jump, but this day was rainy and foggy. Nansen, born in 1861 near Oslo, was a Norwegian zoologist, neurohistologist, oceanographer, diplomat, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and a polar explorer. Holmenkollen Ski Museum is located at the base of the Holmenkollen ski jump. Holmenkollbakken is a large ski jumping hill located at Holmenkollen. It has a capacity for 70,000 spectators. Holmenkollen has hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892, The Ski Museum was founded in 1923 and is the world's oldest ski museum. The initiator of the museum was the architect Hjalmar Welhaven. His private collection formed the foundation of the antique and historic skis on display at the museum. Until 1951, the collection was housed in a building in the Oslo neighbourhood of Frognerseteren. In connection with the rebuilding of Holmenkollbakken in 1951, the museum collection was moved to new premises at Holmenkollbakken. The museum contains 4,000 years of skiing history, starting with rock carvings dating from the Stone Age. It also displays skiers and skis from the Viking Age. Additionally it displays equipment used in the polar expeditions of both Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. The Ski Museum is owned and operated by Skiforeningen. This association is responsible for the organization of sports, activities and events in Holmenkollen National Park.