As part of the development of Geomuseum Faxe and the Stevnsfort Cold War Museum, the two museums are getting new names. The same applies to the East Zealand Museum, which operates both of these attractions.
Things have been moving at full speed at the museums in East Zealand lately. Ambitious development plans and an increased focus on outreach and visibility have been put into action, and now it’s time to change the museums’ names.
The new names are intended to reflect the museums’ shift toward more activities and direct outreach, and to encompass both local stories and major historical narratives in the fields of geology and military history, respectively.
Geomuseum Faxe Becomes KALK
The change to the name KALK underscores the museum’s symbiosis with the magnificent Faxe Limestone Quarry, which contains the very special coral limestone teeming with fossils.
The museum’s fossil hunts have long been popular, and this spring, activity tables have been set up in the museum where visitors can examine their finds up close. Starting June 28, there will also be guides at the museum to help identify finds from the limestone quarry and share their knowledge with visitors.
“The limestone quarry is like a man-made time machine that takes us back 63 million years and lets us stand on the seabed of a prehistoric ocean. At KALK, you get to help unearth history yourself, and it’s truly special to be able to hold history in your hands and even take it home with you,” says Jesper Milàn, curator at KALK.
While the limestone provides the framework for the site’s geological narrative, the museum’s development plans also aim to create spaces to further highlight the more recent history of the limestone quarry as a workplace and resource.
The Stevnsfort Cold War Museum Becomes FORT
The underground Stevns Fort, with its unique opportunity to walk in the soldiers’ footsteps, remains a cornerstone of the museum’s educational program. But local history also serves as a lens through which to view the broader story of ideologies and allies, a topic that has once again become relevant today. With the name FORT, the museum signals that local efforts are part of the broader history of war.
– We’re seeing an increase in visitors who ask about military buildup and military history from a contemporary perspective. We want to convey the broader history of defense and the impact it has had on our worldview today. That’s why we’ve updated the guided tour “Secrets of the Fort” to draw parallels with current developments,” says Anders Knudsen, curator at FORT.
While the content of the guided tours at Stevnsfort is continually being adjusted, the museum’s development plans also aim to restore the grounds to their former, more austere military design and create more educational experiences on the ground.
Museums in East Zealand (plural)
Behind the two museums is the East Zealand Museum, which is also changing its name. In this case, however, it is a minor adjustment from the singular to the plural. The organization will henceforth be known as East Zealand Museums.
“We are devoting all our efforts to developing the visitor-oriented venues KALK and FORT. These are our flagship attractions, so going forward we will be known as Østsjællands Museer, because that makes it easier to understand that we are an umbrella organization for several museums,” says Director Kasper Renström Østervig.
The new names will be rolled out gradually at the museums and in conjunction with the implementation of the development plans.
Going forward, the task of promoting local cultural heritage will fall to the Museums of East Zealand, which are working on a project to make the collections accessible through a new form of presentation.
Additional information:
Kasper Renström Østervig, Director of Østsjællands Museer, Tel.: 20 51 77 20