Top 10 Remarkable Facts about the Nobel Prize Museum

Nobel Prize Museum, photo by Liridon. Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about the Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Museum was opened in the spring of 2001 for the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. In 2019, its name was changed to Nobel Prize Museum in conjunction with Erika Lanner becoming the museum’s new director. The museum is located in the former Stock Exchange Building.

The museum is specifically on the north side of the square Stortorget in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Prize Museum showcases information about the Nobel Prize and Nobel prize-winners, as well as information about the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel (1833–1896).

According to the manifesto of the museum, the intentions are to be a reflection of the spirited memory of Nobel laureates and their achievements. The museum offers exhibitions, films, theatre plays, and debates related to science; in addition to its bistro and shop.

1.Abdulrazak Gurnah donated his dictionary to the Nobel Prize Museum

Gurnah, photo by Amrei-Marie. Wikimedia commons

In 2021, the Nobel Prize Museum was visited by literature laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah. Gurnah was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature for his compassion on the effects of colonialism and the fates of the refugee in the gulf between cultures. During his short visit, he donated his dictionary to the museum and took the opportunity to sign a chair in the museum’s Bistro.

2.It has a handwritten manuscript from Albert Einstein

The Nobel Prize Museum has a growing collection of donated artefacts related to the laureates. One of them include a handwritten manuscript from physics laureate Albert Einstein. Such artefacts help the museum to tell the stories of the laureates.

3.The museum display’s amazing artefacts

The museum’s permanent display includes many artefacts donated by Nobel Laureates, presented together with personal life stories. These objects are usually handed over during the Nobel Week in December. There is a display of peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s shawl that she wore when she gave a speech to the UN General Assembly.

Using Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prize as a point of departure, the Nobel Prize Museum aims to spread knowledge about the subject areas specified by Alfred Nobel in his will. The courage, creativity and persistence of the Nobel Laureates inspire and give hope for the future.

4.The museum offers creative exhibitions of prominent Nobel laureates

A model of a Fullerene at the Nobel Museum, photo by Wing-Chi Poon. Wikimedia commons

The Nobel Prize Museum’s frequently offers creative exhibitions such as a photo exhibition with 42 Nobel laureates photographed with their own sketch of their Nobel discovery. This exhibition has also been shown in other parts of the world as well, including Dubai and Singapore.

Museum exhibitions feature prominent Nobel laureates such as Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill. These exhibitions aim is to spread knowledge and create interest and discussion around the natural sciences and culture through creative learning, exhibition techniques and modern technology.

In addition to our exhibitions, the museum offers a programme filled with conversations, music, performances, tastings and workshops. The pictures of the Nobel Laureates constantly cycle through the room on the dry-cleaning-type ceiling-mounted conveyor system.

5.Alfred Nobel’s gold medal

Nobel prize medal for medicine, photo by Osama Shukir. Wikimedia commons

Alfred Bernhard Nobel bequeathed his fortune to establish the Nobel Prize. He also made several important contributions to science, holding 355 patents in his lifetime. On all Swedish Nobel medals the name of the laureate is engraved fully visible on a plate on the reverse, whereas the name of the Peace Laureate as well as that of the Laureate for the Economics Prize is engraved on the edge of the medal, which is less obvious.

Up to 1980 the Swedish medals, each weighing approximately 200 g and with a diameter of 66 mm, were made of 23 carat gold. Since then they have been made of 18 carat recycled gold. The weight is set to 175 g for all medals, except for the Medal for the Prize in Economic Sciences. Its weight is set to 185 g.

6.The Bistro Nobel

The Bistro is the museum’s own restaurant that is usually open the same hours as the Museum and offers a set, daily menu. The Bistro Nobel also features Nobel chocolate, Swedish cakes, and tasty lunch and dinner. The Nobel tea is usually served every year at the Nobel banquet.

7.The museum is quite small

Photo by Tore Danielsson (WMSE). Wikimedia commons

The Museum is quite small but with vast content. The exhibitions are mostly based on short movies, recording and folding organs in the human body figurine for children. Despite its size it is visually appealing and attracts many tourists. The visitors get a free guided tour in order to understand the Nobel concepts and process of award-giving.

8.Nights at the Nobel Prize Museum

Nights at the Nobel Prize Museum are beyond the ordinary with a series of events. The museum once invited multi-instrumentalist Sebastian Plano from Berlin to perform in a concert. These on-stage programs include literary conversations, science talks and inspiring concerts.

9.The museum offers Membership

Photo by Ellgaard. Wikimedia commons

Anyone can sign up for membership of the Nobel Prize Museum. Membership gives you unlimited access to a world of learning and memorable experiences. Members get free admission to the museum, exhibitions and Nobel Bistro, Free or discounted admission to special events, Invitations to exclusive member events and Nights at the Nobel Prize Museum.

Membership mailings with specific offers for members,10% discount on food at Bistro Nobel, 20% discount in the museum shop are also offered to members. However, the discounts do not apply to charity products, stamps and discounted products

10.A souvenir shop that contains items about Alfred Nobel and the museum

For visitors who want to bring a piece of the museum home, a souvenir shop is available that contains items about Alfred Nobel and the museum. One of the most popular items is Alfred Nobel’s gold medal made in dark fair trade chocolate.

Based on the Nobel Prize has a unique combination of fields such as natural sciences, literature and peace with amazing exhibitions, school programmes, lectures and dialogues about great issues. With the help of videos, donated artefacts and in-depth guided tours you meet freedom fighters, writers and scientists who all contributed to the greatest benefit to humankind.

The Nobel Prize Museum illustrates a century of creativity, where visitors can follow the changes of the 20th century through the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Prize laureates. The task of Nobel Prize Museum is to safeguard the prestige of the Nobel Prize over time by conducting museum, information and research activities that are linked to the Nobel Prize.