Stadsmuseet - Ahlbergshallen

This building was constructed between 1909 and 1912 as a library. It replaced an earlier library at Frösö Trivialskola — a school library dating back to the 1830s, built to house a book collection donated by professor and physician Carl Zetterström in 1816.

When the school moved to the city in 1847, the question of moving the library from Frösön came up too. Due to the conditions in Zetterström's will, a government decision was required — which finally came in 1905. His collection, around twelve thousand volumes from the 1800s and earlier, is still preserved today in the basement of Östersund's library.

The building served as a library until the mid-1950s and was listed as a protected heritage building in 1983. The architect was Frans Bertil Wallberg, the same man behind the Town Hall, and the style is the same — national romanticism. Together, these two buildings are the only ones completed from Wallberg's ambitious plan for a row of grand buildings along Rådhusgatan.

Since 1958, the ground floor has been home to Stadsmuseet — the City Museum — run by the association Gamla Östersund, founded in 1923. The museum tells the story of the city's development from its founding to today, covering everything from local government and architecture to trade, transport, church life, education, and the press.

Upstairs, in Ahlbergshallen, rotating exhibitions are held by Härke Art Centre and Östersund's Art Club — bringing contemporary Swedish art to the public and creating spaces where people and art can meet.

The building was constructed between 1909 and 1912 as Östersund’s new library, replacing the earlier one at Frösö Trivialskola. Its foundation lies in the book collection donated in 1816 by Carl Zetterström, whose twelve thousand volumes are now preserved in the basement of Östersund Library.

Designed by Frans Bertil Wallberg, the house is built in the National Romantic style. It served as the city library until the mid‑1950s and became a listed building in 1983. Together with the City Hall, it is one of the few realized parts of Wallberg’s planned monumental row along Rådhusgatan.

Since 1958, the City Museum, run by the Old Östersund Association, has been located on the ground floor, presenting the city’s development from its founding to today. Ahlbergshallen in the building hosts exhibitions arranged by Härke Art Center and the Östersund Art Club, promoting Swedish contemporary art.

Photos provided by the association of Gamla Östersund.
Gamla Östersund through the foundations managed by the association.