Vigeland
museet

Nor
The Vigeland Park is popular among tourists and locals. (Photo: Espen Grønli)

Vigeland Park / Chronology

1896

What is now known as Frogner Park was previously owned by Frogner Manor. The area is purchased by the City of Kristiania.

1902

The city decides that the area east of the ponds, between Frognerveien and Middelthuns Gate, are to be laid out as a public park. The "old" part of the park is opened to the public in 1904.

1914

Present-day Frogner stadium is built. The Bridge between the upper and lower Frogner ponds is laid out in connection the Jubilee Exhibition.

1923

Tennis courts are laid out north of the Main Gate facing Kirkeveien.

1924

The city decides to have an area west of the ponds used for Vigeland's Fountain and the Monolith with granite sculptures. This decision is taken by the city council on 27 November.

Model of the park.
Model of the park.

1928

Vigeland's plan for the Main Gate on Kirkeveien is approved by the city council. The Monolith block is raised during this year.

The Monolith block is raised.
The Monolith block is raised.

1929

The carving of the Monolith is begun during the summer of this year.

The stonecutters Ivar Broe, Nils Jønsson and Karl Kjær.
The stonecutters Ivar Broe, Nils Jønsson and Karl Kjær.

1931

In July, the city council approved Vigeland's plan and proposal for the sculpture decoration of the Bridge and the extension of the park area west of the ponds. The work on the terrain begins in the autumn of this year.

1939

The first sculptures are positioned in the park, i.e. along the Bridge. The Lady and The Monk, two of the first granite sculptures at either end of the Bridge.

Construction work on the bridge.
Construction work on the bridge.

1940

The granite sculptures The Valiant Fighter and The Vanquished One are positioned. In addition 46 of the 58 sculptures along the Bridge are positioned during this summer, including the small, angry boy Sinnataggen (The Angry Boy). The Bridge is opened to the public on 7 July 1940.

The Angry Boy photographed by Johannes Stage in the 1940s
The Angry Boy photographed by Johannes Stage in the 1940s

1941

The Main Gate is erected in September and completed in July 1942.

The Main Gate photographed by Johannes Stage in the 1940s.
The Main Gate photographed by Johannes Stage in the 1940s.

1942

The carving of the Monolith is completed in the summer of this year.

1943

Gustav Vigeland dies on 12 March.

1943

The public is able to enter the temporary house round the Monolith to see the work for the first time.

A construction of boards was built around The Monolith in the autumn of 1928.
A onstruction of boards was built around The Monolith in the autumn of 1928.

1944

The Fountain, i.e. the basin and the giants, are put in position this summer.

1944

The house around the Monolith is removed in December.

The carving of the Monolith is completed.
The carving of the Monolith is completed.

1946

The tree groups, 20 in all, are placed around the Fountain in May.

1947

The Fountain is erected and the water turned on. 1.800 m3 of water pass through the system every hour.

Vigelandsparken Fontenen Foto Espen Grønli Vigelandmuseet

1947

In May and June, 16 of the total of 36 granite groups are put in position on the circular flight of steps around the Monolith.

Sculptures in the Vigeland Park. (Photo: Espen Grønli)
Sculptures in the Vigeland Park. (Photo: Espen Grønli)

1950

The Vigeland Museum is officially opened on 4 July by the head of the Vigeland Committee, Cinema Manager Kristofer Aamot. The museum was later handed over to Rolf Stranger on behalf of the City of Oslo.

The Vigeland Museum.
The Vigeland Museum.

1952

Eight wrought-iron gates are installed on the Monolith plateau.

Wrought iron works in the Vigeland Park. Photo: Espen Grønli.

1956

The Frogner Pool is open to the public.

1988

The sculpture The Clan is unveiled (funded by IBM).

1993

The park is officially opened on 2 June. During an event held at the Main Gate, the artist's self-portrait was unveiled, along with The Contributors' Monument. The self-portrait was a donation from Stiftelsen Fritt Ord, while The Friends of the Frogner Park funded The Contributors' Monument

1993

The Triangle (funded by Eiendomsspar).

2002

Surprised (funded by Kistefos AS).

Surprised. Photo: Jannik Abel.
Surprised. Photo: Jannik Abel.