Den Gamle By

In 1908, the city of Aarhus decided the time had come to move on from the Old Mayor’s House. Over 300 years old, it would make sense that city officials might require some updating to their quarters. The initial plan, however, was to demolish the structure. For one citizen of Aarhus, that decision was unacceptable.

Peter Holm, a teacher in the city, wished to preserve the structure for future generations, and convinced officials to take down the house for later reassembly instead of a full demolition. Opening the newly rebuilt structure to the local public in 1914, it would be fifteen years later that Holm would be notified that more historic structures were in danger in nearby Aalborg. Quickly raising money to move the multiple buildings next to the Old Mayor’s house, soon a historic village had sprung up in the middle of Aarhus. Peter may not have known it then, but that would be the birth of one of Denmark’s top heritage parks.

With Holm at the helm as director of the park for 31 years, 50 historic structures were saved and moved into the preservation park. It was finally named Den Gamle By, or “The Old Town,” and became the preeminent open-air museum for Danish culture. Along with preserving architectural history, actors and workshops were created to help visitors understand what life was like in different periods of Danish history.

Today, Den Gamle By serves over 400,000 visitors a year, and now includes over 75 preserved structures from all over the country. Visitors can step back in time to multiple historic periods, from the 2010s (yes, that’s history now) to 1864. The beautifully timbered Old Mayor’s House is still the crown jewel of the park, however, serving as Holm’s best teaching lesson that preservation can be a great way to connect to the many who lived before us.