Anders Sandvig

Anders Sandvig (11 May 1862 – 11 February 1950) was a Norwegian dentist most noted for having founded Maihaugen, an innovative regional ethnological and architectural museum in Lillehammer Municipality, documenting the vernacular architecture of Gudbrandsdalen.

On a travel to Skiaaker Municipality (later spelled Skjåk) in 1894, he came to the realization that Norwegian farmers had not yet begun to appreciate their cultural heritage. He acquired his first house, a dwelling house built in 1764 at Skiaaker. The building was moved to the large property he had near Lillehammer.

The city of Lillehammer set aside an area known as Maihaugen and bought Sandvig's collection and established the Sandvig Collections (De Sandvigske Samlinger) in 1904. Sandvig was at first hired as unpaid curator, but was later appointed the museum's first director. Sandvig also traveled extensively to promote ethnological museums, including Vesterheim in Decorah, Iowa.

Personal life In 1889 he married Anna Georgine Uchermann (1868–1950). In 1900 he became a knight and in 1907 commander of the Order of St. Olav. He was also commander of the Swedish Order of Vasa. He retired from the museum in 1947 at 85 years of age. He died in 1950 at Lillehammer.