Harjamäen sairaalamuseo

About the museum

The Harjamäki Hospital Museum depicts the history of the Harjamäki Mental Hospital, which operated in Siilinjärvi from 1926 to 1997. The basic exhibition presents both the patients’ and the nursing staff’s perspective, and at the same time looks at the development of psychiatry and psychiatric treatment in Finland. The museum is located on the former hospital grounds about three kilometres from Siilinjärvi centre towards Maaninka and is maintained by the municipality’s cultural services.

The Harjamäki hospital grounds have been preserved as a culturally valuable, unified whole. The area can be explored independently: the museum provides a guide leaflet in which the sites are numbered and QR codes give further information. Sites include the old main building, known as Ukkotalo, the women’s ward, known as Akkatalo, the new main building, the Kevätön hospital, the farm, the gate of Ukkotalo and the staff residences.

Highlights

• History of Harjamäki Mental Hospital, 1926–1997
• Perspective of patients and nursing staff
• History of psychiatry and psychiatric treatment in Finland
• Self-guided walking tour of the hospital grounds
• Guide leaflet and QR codes for the site’s sites

Permanent exhibition

• Harjamäen mielisairaalan historia – The basic exhibition tells of the Harjamäki Mental Hospital from 1926 to 1997 from the viewpoint of patients and staff, and of the history of psychiatry in Finland.

Operated by

Siilinjärven kunta

Admission & discounts

Adults from the age of 16. Admission is free with the Kaikukortti. The museum is not part of the Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) scheme.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 museum can be reached by a lift at the far end of the building, near the accessible entrance. The outer door of the lift is locked, so staff should be told in advance if the lift is needed. The accessible toilet is on the 1st floor.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about three kilometres from Siilinjärvi centre towards Maaninka; signposted from main road 77.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit