Huittisten museo

About the museum

The founding year of Huittisten museo is usually taken to be 1938, when Huittisten museo- ja kotiseutuyhdistys began collecting objects in the municipality. The association’s parish museum opened officially to the public in July 1950, and the first permanent exhibition was designed by Professor Niilo Valonen. The town took over the running of the museum in 1977, and after renovation the museum reopened in May 1985. Since the beginning of 2009, the museum has belonged to the Harjavalta museum operations under an agreement between the two towns: Harjavalta is responsible for the museum’s administration and finances, while Huittinen owns the collections, the buildings and the land.

The museum is in a three-storey stone storehouse, built in 1902 as a loan granary to designs by architect G. A. Brander. The stone was brought from the Ripovuori rock. From 1940 the building was rented for other uses, including to the museum association and the Civil Guard (suojeluskunta), and during the war part of it served as an annex to the mortuary and part as premises for the national supply archive. The town bought the entire building in 1976 and renovated it as a museum.

The museum presents local peasant culture. It holds art from the collection of sculptor Lauri Leppänen and a section devoted to the life work of President Risto Ryti, as well as a replica of the Huittinen elk head; the original is in the National Museum.

Highlights

• Exhibition on President Risto Ryti
• Exhibition on sculptor Lauri Leppänen
• Replica of the Huittinen elk head in the prehistory exhibition
• Stone storehouse built in 1902
• Children’s corner in the foyer

Permanent exhibitions

• Risto Ryti – Permanent exhibition on President Risto Ryti, who was born in Huittinen.
• Lauri Leppänen – Permanent exhibition on sculptor Lauri Leppänen, who was born in Huittinen.
• Esihistoria ja Huittisten hirvenpää – The prehistory exhibition features an exact replica of the roughly 8,000-year-old Huittinen elk head.

Founded

1950

Operated by

Huittisten kaupunki (hallinto Harjavallan kaupunki)

Admission & discounts

The Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is valid and can be bought at the museum. A visit outside opening hours incurs an additional €30 opening fee.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

One accessible parking space is on gravel at the church end, less than 10 metres from the side entrance; the entrance can be opened on request and a ramp can be placed there. The main entrance has two external steps and one internal staircase. There is no lift. The exhibitions are on three floors, and the first floor is step-free. The exhibition rooms have chairs. The toilets are not accessible. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. For accessibility enquiries you can call +358 44 560 4319.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

The foyer has a children’s corner with drawing materials, books and tasks.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Kirkkotie 4, opposite Huittinen Church.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A small museum shop sells museum products and local handicrafts; it can be entered without an admission ticket.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit