Kohtla-Järve Põlevkivimuuseum
The Kohtla-Järve Oil Shale Museum is the world’s only museum devoted to the oil shale industry and presents the history and present of the use of oil shale.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Kohtla-Järve Oil Shale Museum was founded on 31 March 1966 and is the world’s only museum in this field still in operation. Until the spring of 1999 the museum was in the former office building of the “Põlevkivi Tööstus” (Oil Shale Industry) company in the old town of Kohtla-Järve. When the town government took over the museum from the state in 1998, it was decided to move it to the town government building, where a new permanent exhibition opened in 1999.
In November 2006 a new move began, and in May 2007 the permanent exhibition opened in the Kukruse district, a symbolic place, since oil shale underground mining began at Kukruse in 1916. A third move began in 2016, and in the new location a new exhibition was prepared, which opened on 12 June 2019.
Today visitors can learn about the history and present of the use of oil shale as a natural resource. The permanent exhibition is brightened by some dozens of works of art, which can also be viewed as a separate exhibition. The museum’s holdings include more than 30,000 items and more than 900 works of art.
Highlights
- The world’s only museum of the oil shale industry
- Permanent exhibition on the formation, mining and use of oil shale
- Several dozen works of art on the oil shale industry
- History of the town of Kohtla-Järve
- Free admission with the museum card
Permanent exhibition
- Põlevkivimuuseumi püsiekspositsioon – The permanent exhibition presents the formation of oil shale, its deposits, mining and use, and the oil shale industry in art (about 80 works).
- Founded
- 1966
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum offers guided tours. The White Hall and the town government gallery host temporary exhibitions. |