An ancient trade route passed up from Sunnm�re through Lom and Skj�k and down the Gudbrandsdal into the �stlandet. The trade consisted of fish and salt heading inland, and grain heading to the coast.
The Saga of Olaf Haraldson relates that St. Olaf commented as he first looked down on Lom, �What a pity to have to lay waste to such a beautiful valley.� In the face of such a clear motivation, the residents of the valley converted (it has since been a recurring discussion whether he looked to Lom or the neighbouring municipality Skj�k, at the time a part of Lom.) St. Olafs-stuggu, a building were St. Olaf is reported to have spent a night in 1021, can still be found here. The building is part of the Presthaugen District Museum.
Lom stave church, which is located at Lom center, is believed to have been built in 1158, making 2008 the 850th anniversary. It was extended in 1634, with further addition of two naves in 1667. It is believed that the church was originally surrounded by a circumambulatory passage, like many other Norwegian stave churches, but that this passage was removed when the two side wings were added. A few Runic inscriptions can be still be seen in the church. The church also contains numerous paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries with religious motifs. Many of the paintings were made by local artist Eggert Munch, a distant relation of the famous Edvard Munch. The church also contains numerous examples of local woodcarving, as seen in the elaborate acanthus scrolls adorning the pulpit. Carved dragon figures on the roof are old symbols of protection against evil. It is still in use as the local church.
The Garmo stave church, which was built around 1150, has been relocated from Lom municipality and is now at Maihaugen in Lillehammer.
During the 1940 Norwegian Campaign German prisoners of war were kept by the Norwegian Army at Lom prisoner of war camp. Lom was bombed twice by the GermanLuftwaffe in April 1940
