Places with a story
Myken fyr
Myken fyr stands on Jutøya, separate from the main settlement of Myken. Its modest keeper’s house and roof lantern tell a story of navigation, exposed island work and a later life welcoming visitors by arrangement.
The place1
The staffed lighthouse station was established in 1918, replacing a weaker light on the same site. A timber house accommodated the keeper’s family and an assistant, with the lantern mounted above a low wooden tower on its roof. Outbuildings, an oil store, a boathouse and landing completed the working station.
History and local connections1
Earlier lights on Jutøya had served the fishing community from the 1890s. Fishermen sought stronger guidance in the harsh coastal conditions, and the station’s light was first lit on 10 October 1918. Electrification followed in 1955. Automation in 1975 ended the keeper family’s residence, changing the relationship between the building and its original work.
What to look for1
The compact combination of home and lighthouse is its defining feature: this was a family station rather than only a freestanding tower. A transport cable once helped move oil and supplies from the landing. The buildings later found a new use as a visitor lighthouse, preserving the place through an activity quite different from staffed navigation.
Planning a visit2
The current operator offers the lighthouse to one group at a time and describes self-catering arrangements. Access involves a crossing from Myken to the lighthouse island, so contact the operator before planning a visit. Confirm boat transfers, availability and any day-visit possibilities directly; the station is not a building reached by an ordinary walk from the village.
Sources
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