The Institute of History of the University of Iceland celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021. To mark the anniversary, an exhibition was opened in the National Library on Thursday, September 2, about the history of the institute and its activities. At the opening of the exhibition, addresses were given by Guðmundur Jónsson, former director of the Institute of History, Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Education and Culture, and Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland. In addition, Helgi Þorláksson, former professor of history, gave a talk that he calls "Forerunners at a time of wishful thinking" and finally, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, opened the history exhibition.