Kainuu Museums

A permanent exhibition on the history and culture of Kainuu, as well as changing exhibitions.

Changing exhibitions in a building that originally served as a police station.

In the museum, you can learn about the evacuation of civilians from Kuhmo and the daily life of Finnish and Soviet soldiers during the winter war.

The house museum presents the everyday life and inhabitants of the Tuupala house from the end of the 19th century until the 1960s. Open at summertime.

The building called Katvela dates back to 1896, being the oldest school building in Ristijärvi. Katvela hosts two permanent exhibitions; a White Guard and Lotta Sister Exhibition and a 1950s classroom. Open at summertime.

The popular Raatteen Portti Winter War Museum on the historical sceneries of war has more than 300 square meters of museum space and an impressive War Monument outside.

The Frontier Guard Museum located at the eastern end of the Raate road at Suomussalmi is restored to its state of 1939. It tells us of the life of a frontier guard post before the Second World War. Open at summertime.

Visit the homestead of late author Ilmari Kianto on guided summer cruises on lake Kiantajärvi. Ilmari Kianto wrote a total of sixty-seven books.

The buildings and items of Riihipiha House Museum show development of agriculture and tools used in housekeeping. Open at summertime.

The Eino Leino House was built in 1978 resembling the house where famous poet Eino Leino was born.

The Kajaani Castle was built in the beginning of the 17th century and was destroyed in the Great Northern War in 1716.

Elias Lönnrot worked as a district and castle physician in Kajaani from 1833 to 1853.  He traveled to do vaccination rounds but also to collect poetry in Karelia and compiled Kalevala, the national epic of Finland.

Huovishuone is a showcase of the author Veikko Huovinen’s work and living environment. His work and the background of his books are presented in his old study. Open at summertime.

The building of Paltamo Museum of Local History was built in 1910 and was originally a granary. Open at summertime.

The house was built by young poet Isa Asp’s brother in 1899. Today the house is used for cultural purposes. In the summertime, the house is open for public and hosts an art exhibition. At other times, members of the Isa Asp Association present the house upon request.

Telling about the history of Sotkamo all the way from prehistoric times to the present day, the Sotkamo granary museum is located in a former crown granary near the town centre. Open at summertime.

The house museum includes an old residential building, two granaries and a loft. The museum is furnished in a way that resembles the house in the beginning of 1950’s. Open at summertime.

Kaunislehto represents the average house in Hyrynsalmi at the turn of the 20th century. Open at summertime.

The museum’s collection of objects and the large courtyard reflect the past life in 19th-20th century Kainuu. Open at summertime.

In the museum, you can see objects from the times of subsistence economy. The second chamber and partly also the living room are furnished with furniture from the early 1910s. Open at summertime.

The Toy Museum ”Yesterday’s Children and Toys Played With” presents figurines from the beginning of the last century, as well as teddies, dolls, mechanical and other toys, bringing up nostalgic memories from the childhood for the visitors. Open at summertime.