Historie

The lookout post announces - "Land by sight!" This was "Siggen på Bömmelöen" which he sighted. Roald Amundsen on his polar ship "Fram" saw again in this way his fatherland. Siggjo and Bømlo were by all times through the first guiding points, the coming home navigators of their homeland saw.

After the last ice age the people farther pulled up the coast. The coast with Bømlo with their numerous skerries, sunden and cross-beams was suitable extremely well for the fishing. In the first time they were pulling hunter's trunks, here later, however, the people became more settled. The oldest settlements from the Stone Age on Bømlo are approximately 1000 years old.

Hespriholmen

Approximately 9000 years ago began the hunters and collectors out to the greenstone which was found on the Hespriholm to make diveces. In fragile boats produced from hides they get to the dross-beam, broke the stone out and brought him after to Langevåg.

Langevåg

In Langevåg had the "green-stone-people". Here the green stone was processed by the Hesprholm many during thousend years to devices and weapons. Quarries and settler's places from the stone age the green stone was applied much more frequently with the production by axes. The known archaeologist Haakon Shetelig named Bømlo the "legends country"

The history of fishing

Bømlo, whose inhabitants were fishermen and farmers, were always connected closely with the sea. About 1830 big herring dreams came to the west coast from Bømlo.

Espevær

Espevær had lain for the fishing positively and the "Baadehuset" (today museum) was in the middle of centre.
Espevær was later to the center for the lobster enclosures - from now the lobster from the lobster enclosures was shipped in the home and foreign country. Espevær was also important at the beginning of 20th century, when the mackerel catch with the troll was an important branch of industry in the North Sea. Also to this day many work Bømloer in the fishing, the ship trip and the pisciculture.

The Gold-mines

By the end of 19th century experienced Bømlo a big "economic adventure". A small boy found gold and released with it a proper gold fever. About 1885, when it went up here most hectic several, hundre men worked in the gold mines with Lykling. Altogether approximately 140 kgs of pure gold were found.

The Wichmannforges

Bømlos beuere industrial history bagan in 1903 in the Wichmannforges in Rubbestadneset. Here the first boat engine was produced - the prelude to the Wichmann engine factory, the current Wärtsilä Norway AS. Round this Operation many other high-technological, with the sea and the ship trip connected enterprises have appeared.

The 1000-year-old anniversary and the church laws

In 1995 it was celebrated on Bømlo largely. It was namely just 1000 years when Olav Tryggvason went ashore with Moster, a tent hit read and a fair held. Later the tradition of the Service has been maintained in Norway continuously.
1024 Olav Haraldsson (saint) came to the Mostrathing, to dimiss the church laws.