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.
1928
Vigeland's plan for the Main Gate on Kirkeveien is approved by the city council. The Monolith block is raised during this year.
1929
The carving of the Monolith is begun during the summer of this year.
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.
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.
1941
The Main Gate is erected in September and completed in July 1942.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1952
Eight wrought-iron gates are installed on the Monolith plateau.
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).
