Karkkila-Högforsin työläismuseo

About the museum

The Karkkila-Högforsin työläismuseo is an open-air museum area in the Fagerkulla district, which tells of the home conditions and housing of the workers at the Högfors ironworks from the 1850s to the 1990s. The area was established in 1986 as part of the conservation of the Fagerkulla workers’ village. Furnished worker’s homes from different decades have been set up in the old residential buildings, which have survived in their original locations.

The oldest building is Mäntylä, originally a croft (torppa) of Karki farm, which was moved to Fagerkulla in 1870 to house two ironworks families. The house named Torppa is a two-family residence built by the Högfors ironworks in 1894, where a 1930s flat of a moulder’s family is on display, among other things. Rauhala depicts the hard years of the 1940s in the museum flats of a four-family house, as well as housing in the 1960s. The Cavenius house presents the living conditions of a more affluent supervisor’s family from the late 19th century, and the Sarlin house shows the everyday life of a workman’s family with abundant handicraft objects.

The area also includes Pakari, a former shared bakehouse completed in 1919, which now serves as a summer café and a hall available for rent for celebrations. The houses are open in summer on guided tours, and the museum is open to groups by arrangement all year round. For groups there is also the themed tour Öhmanska tiätää, in which the fictional moulder’s wife Öhmanska presents the homes in the atmosphere of the 1920s. The workers’ museum belongs to the Karkkila Ironworks Museum Senkka sites, together with the Suomen Valimomuseo and the Högfors blast furnace.

Highlights

• Furnished worker’s homes from the 1850s to the 1990s
• Mäntylä, Torppa, Rauhala, the Cavenius house and the Sarlin house
• Pakari, a former shared bakehouse completed in 1919
• Öhmanska tiätää themed tour for groups
• Part of the Karkkilan ruukkimuseo Senkka sites

Permanent exhibition

• Ruukkilaisten työläiskodit 1850–1990-luvuilta – Furnished worker’s homes in the old residential buildings of the open-air museum area show everyday life among ironworks workers and how housing changed.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Karkkilan kaupunki (Karkkilan ruukkimuseo Senkka)

Admission & discounts

The Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card), the ICOM card and the Kaiku card are accepted. Only bank or credit cards, MobilePay and ePassi are accepted as means of payment; cash is not accepted. Group ticket for all sites (at least 10 people): €14.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The visiting address is Vanha Fagerkullantie. The workers’ museum is within walking distance of the Suomen Valimomuseo.

Amenities & dining

• Café

A summer café operates in Pakari.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

The Pakari premises can be rented for private events; enquiries by phone +358 500 938 337.

Plan your visit