The herrings arrived on Iceland’s shores in the early 20th century as a rather literal silver tsunami. Yet by the 70s, the silver tides had receded, drawing back to sea the gold that had been overturned by seafood sales in the past few decades. The Herring Era Museum revives this old school charm with its flagstone paved streets and wooden piers.

As the largest maritime museum in Iceland, it is also the only Icelandic museum to hold the honor of receiving the European museum award. The docks and boat house still support the vessels of old, often seen bobbing in the frigid waters. Herring girls donning traditional Icelandic frocks line the lengthy streets to hawk fish as they once did, the blood red gills of the fish still glinting under the sunlight. The stout red timber house is an iconic centerpiece of the museum, still featuring much of the machinery and instruments used to process the fish at the onset of the age of Industrialization. As evening sets, do take a stroll along the streets, bathed by the warm yellow light of halogen lights as you take in the rows of timber structures. Nestled at the foot of a vast mountain range, the Herring Era Museum is a piece of the 70s still sheltered from the greedy grips of time.