Aleksis Kiven koti
Finland's national writer Aleksis Kivi's childhood home in Palojoki is a house museum whose basic exhibition tells of the writer's life and works.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Finland's national writer Aleksis Kivi was born in Palojoki, Nurmijärvi, on 10 October 1834, the fourth child of tailor Erik Stenvall and Annastiina Stenvall. The Stenvall house was built by the writer's father in 1824, right in the centre of the village. The family home and the home village remained dear to Kivi all his life, and as an adult, when visiting Palojoki, he lived and wrote in the attic room of the house.
After the parents died in the 1860s, the house was auctioned. Kivi would have liked to buy it himself, but because of financial difficulties he had to give up the plan. Later the house housed Palojoki's first village shop, and it was altered a great deal.
The Aleksis Kiven Seura (Aleksis Kivi Society) acquired the house in 1947, and it was restored to match the original Stenvall family home under the direction of architect Erkki Helama. The house museum opened to the public on Midsummer Day 1951. In 1965 the museum passed into the care of the municipality of Nurmijärvi. The basic exhibition explores Kivi's life and works, and upstairs there is a photo exhibition of the landscapes of Palojoki.
Highlights
- Kivi's childhood home from 1824, furnished in a homely way
- Basic exhibition on Kivi's life and works, with a short film and word games
- Photo exhibition of the Palojoki landscapes upstairs
- Kekkuri museum shop and coffee kiosk in the courtyard
Permanent exhibition
- Aleksis Kiven kodin perusnäyttely – The basic exhibition explores Kivi's life and works, examines myths connected with the writer's profession and opens up the society of the time. Upstairs there is a photo exhibition of the Palojoki landscapes.
- Founded
- 1951
- Operated by
- Nurmijärven kunta (Nurmijärven museo)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Under-18s enter free. |
Free admission: Free admission on Fridays 15:00–17:00.
Standard ticket €5, reduced ticket €2. Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) and Kaikukortti are accepted. Tickets are sold at the Kekkuri museum shop in the courtyard.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Aleksis Kivi home and the museum shop are not step-free.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
For children there are picture walls and miniature models related to the subject, and a miniature model of the courtyard of Kivi's home that can be played with. Under-18s enter free.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
The Kekkuri museum shop and coffee kiosk are located in the museum courtyard and are open during museum opening hours.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours are booked by telephone. In the museum you can watch the short film Aleksis Kiven askelissa (In Aleksis Kivi's Footsteps), listen to Kivi's texts and test your knowledge of the Kivi language with a word game. |
