Canning Museum

I asked some other expat ladies what the Canning Museum was like.  The answer a resounding single word answer, "odd."   Followed by, "it's great, I've been 5 times, you have to go."  This was repeated and reinforced by more than one lady,  "it's odd, you just have to go to see, it's just odd, and great at the same time."

In a different age sardine canning has been Stavanger's Golden Ticket and when the fish mysteriously went away, it caused much hardship and despair.  Stavanger has a museum inside a former canning factory and it's definitely a sight to see.  It's a bit different than a normal museum, not much reading signs and see things behind glass shields.  Machines, tools, and displays of a different era are viewed up close.  The museum is set up with little plastic sardines, so you can actually see how the fish were decapitated, smoked, etc.  I know it sounds odd and gruesome.  But, it is really really was interesting.  If you go on Tuesdays an Thursdays in the summer, or the first Sunday of the month they have some true life demonstrations of canning.  I can't wait to go back an see more.

Racks for the fish to be processed on... I found it hard not to poke the fish with my finger.  Weird little plastic fish everywhere...

Fish being smoked...

Sardine Can Labels, some very interesting marketing. These bad boys kept be entertained and spinning the squares around in circles for way longer than appropriate for any adult.

Go have a look; it's definitely and "odd" museum.  I'll be going back myself.