The settlement was founded as a trading post for Jacob Severin's company in 1734[4] and named Christianshaab in honour of King Christian VI of Denmark.

[6] Paul Egede's former residence is Greenland's oldest surviving wooden building.

It was completed on 25 July 1734[7] and moved to its present site in 1806 owing to the heavy wind at its original location across the bay.

In the summer of 1999, an archaeological discovery provided the museum with a collection of finds from different prehistoric cultures.

[9] During summer and autumn, when the waters of Disko Bay are navigable, communication between settlements is by sea only, serviced by Diskoline.