In 1939, a single hot water tank was constructed on Öskjuhlíð hill in Reykjavík, where Perlan stands today. It is 61 meters above sea level, which gives enough pressure to push water up to the 10th floor of a building, 38 meters above sea level. That sufficed to supply water anywhere in Reykjavík – even to the hill where Hallgrímskirkja church stands today. In the next two decades, five more tanks rose beside the first one. They were torn down and rebuilt in the late eighties.

In 1991, those six hot water tanks became the base of Perlan, a building open to the public. This project was largely at the behest of Davíð Oddsson during his time as mayor of Reykjavík. Shaped and named after a pearl, it now characterizes Iceland's capital.^{[citation needed]} Each tank can keep up to five million liters of hot water, with a volume of 5000 m³.

Perlan was initially designed by Ingimundur Sveinsson.

• Wonders of Iceland is an exhibit that showcases Icelandic nature: glaciers, geysers, earthquakes, mammals in Icelandic water, birds, and volcanoes. There is also a timeline explaining how Iceland was formed and how life in Iceland evolved. In Wonders of Iceland exhibits, one of the highlights is a replica of Látrabjarg cliff.
• The Icelandic Museum of Natural History presents an exhibit in Perlan: Water in Icelandic Nature. This is an exhibition about the importance of water in Icelandic nature.^[1]
• A planetarium with a show called Áróra. This show is about the Northern Lights. It takes you on journey through Iceland's solar system and Icelandic landscapes.
• Lava Show is a film that takes you to the recent eruption site.

Being situated on the top of a hill, Perlan offers a view over Reykjavík, the surrounding areas, mountains, the Atlantic Ocean.

• Sagas of Icelanders

• Official website  

64°07′45″N 21°55′08″W / 64.1292°N 21.9189°W / 64.1292; -21.9189