The building was constructed from 1906 to 1908 and opened to the public in 1909.  It was designed by a Danish architect, Johannes Magdahl Nielsen, but built by Icelandic craftsmen.  The brainchild of Hannes Hafstein, the first Minister of Icelandic Affairs under Home Rule, the building was intended to house the National Library and the National Archives, but due to lack of suitable premises, the National Museum and Natural History Museum were also temporarily housed there from the beginning.  For several decades, the Culture House contained all of Iceland’s principal national treasures.  The new name, “The Culture House”, reflects the building’s new and independent role after the library, archives and museums were moved to other premises.

The Culture House contains exhibition halls, meeting rooms, a cafeteria and a shop.  Theme exhibitions are staged in halls on the first floor and in the attic.  Permanent exhibitions on cultural and historical topics are on the second floor and in the space up to the floor above.  The meeting rooms, which are available for hire with all necessary equipment and services, also house smaller exhibitions.  On the first floor are a shop, selling souvenirs, artwork and books, and a cafeteria, open to exhibitions visitors and the general public.  The building has an elevator and priority is given to making its activities accessible to everyone.

The curatior attends to school classes accompanied by their teachers every weekday during the opening hours.  Such visis, however, have to be arranged on beforehand at least two days before the visit.

No entrance fee on Wednesdays.