Kultamuseo

About the museum

Gold prospectors founded the Kultamuseo in 1973 to preserve and present the gold history of Lapland. An association to maintain the museum’s operations was founded in the 1980s, and the first part of the museum’s current main building was built. The main building was taken into use in 1983.

The exhibition became international in 1995, when the Golden World exhibition was assembled in co-operation with gold museums and embassies of various countries, in a new annex under the world’s largest gold pan. Each country provided its own material, which is why the exhibition combines different presentation styles and languages.

Today the museum is run by the Kultamuseosäätiö (Kultamuseo Foundation). Voluntary work (talkootyö) remains a central part of the museum’s activities. The museum has permanent exhibitions on Lapland’s gold history and international gold history, as well as a stone and mineral exhibition, and in summer a large open-air museum area is open.

Highlights

• Lapland’s gold history: over 150 years of gold panning
• Golden World – gold-mining traditions from over 20 countries
• Stones and minerals exhibition
• Gold panning in guided workshops
• Open-air museum area in summer

Permanent exhibitions

• Lapin kultahistoria – The permanent exhibition in the main building covers over 150 years of gold mining in Lapland, starting from the Ivalojoki gold rush of 1869.
• Golden World – Kansainvälinen kultahistoria – In the round exhibition building, under the world’s largest gold pan, gold-mining traditions from over 20 countries are presented, from ancient Rome to the Klondike.
• Kivet ja mineraalit – Stone and mineral collection in the Golden World building.

Founded

1973

Operated by

Kultamuseosäätiö

Admission & discounts

Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Payment methods: cash, bank and credit cards, Museokortti and the Smartum sport and culture voucher.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

The museum buildings can be reached by wheelchair and other aids via a ramp, and movement inside is barrier-free; the doorways and passages are wide. People with limited mobility can drive along the service road to the museum door, and an accessible parking space is near the door. The toilets can also be used with a toilet key card (vessapassi). Guide dogs and assistance dogs may join the museum tour; other dogs may not enter the buildings, but they can be left in the dog parking area of the open-air museum area at the owner’s own risk.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The toilet has a changing table and a potty. Gold panning is also offered to children.

Getting there & parking

Tankavaara lies along valtatie 4, about 30 km south of Saariselkä. Two junctions lead to Tankavaara from the main road; the southern one leads directly to the museum car park.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

There is a self-service cloakroom in the lobby, and valuables can be left with staff at the ticket counter. Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit