Places with a story

Deanu musea

Deanu musea in Buolbmát / Polmak presents the river Sámi culture of the Tana valley. A surviving historic trading place, protected buildings and museum collections connect river life with a landscape shared across national borders.

Get to know the municipalityTana

The place¹ ²

The museum lies beside the Tana river in the former centre of Polmak municipality. Its main building dates from around 1790 and was associated with a trading place. The municipality owns seven protected buildings in the museum yard. The surviving ensemble is significant because Buolbmát / Polmak was largely spared the wartime burning that destroyed many other settlements in Finnmark.

History and local connections¹

The museum began as Tana historie og museumslag in 1978. The municipality bought the former guesthouse in 1985, providing a basis for the cultural-history museum. Deanu musea joined Tana og Varanger Museumssiida in 2010. Its responsibilities include river Sámi history as well as Finnish, Kven and Norwegian traditions in a multilingual valley.

What to look for¹ ²

The museum's themes include salmon fishing methods, boatbuilding, clothing, duodji handicrafts, turf-building traditions, music and the use of surrounding land. Together these show how households combined different livelihoods. The historical buildings themselves are important exhibits. Collections include boats, objects, photographs and archives, although the operator explains that material is stored in several locations while better museum facilities are planned.

Planning a visit¹ ²

The operator currently lists visits by appointment. Contact Deanu musea before travelling to Buolbmát / Polmak, and ask which buildings and collections can be seen. A proposed museum at Tanabru has not replaced this historic location. Confirm guiding and any seasonal café service rather than treating them as daily offers. Discuss access needs for the old buildings and outdoor grounds.