Lepikon torppa

About the museum

Lepikon torppa is a modest crofter’s cottage in Pielavesi, where Urho Kekkonen was born on 3 September 1900. The croft was built in the mid-19th century, and originally it was a single-room smoke cabin (savupirtti), to which a chamber was added in the 1860s. In spring 1900 Juho Kekkonen was granted the right to live in the croft and moved there with his wife Emilia. The family lived in the croft until the end of 1906, after which they moved to Kuopio, Lapinlahti and Iisalmi, and in 1911 settled in Kajaani.

When the Kekkonen family moved in, the house was repaired: Juho Kekkonen replaced the smoke oven with a chimney stove, the walls were hewn from round logs, the crossbeams of the gable room were removed, and the windows were changed to suit later living. The historical value of the croft was recognised after Kekkonen had become prime minister and, in 1956, president.

The Lepikko Foundation (Lepikko-säätiö) bought the croft in 1966, and it was restored under the direction of the Finnish Heritage Agency to its early-20th-century state. The museum opened to the public on Kekkonen’s birthday, 3 September 1966, and the president and his wife attended the opening. The furniture reflects a home of the early 20th century, and some objects belonged to the Kekkonen family. The museum has been open continuously since 1966, and it has received hundreds of thousands of visitors from Finland and abroad.

Highlights

• Birthplace of President Urho Kekkonen
• Croft developed from a smoke cabin, from the mid-19th century
• Interior in early-20th-century style; some objects belonged to the Kekkonen family
• Summer café in the farmyard
• Urho Kekkonen’s Tour (Urho Kekkosen kierros) map route

Permanent exhibition

• Urho Kekkosen syntymäkoti – The croft has been restored to its early-20th-century state, and its furniture reflects the home of that time. Some objects belonged to the Kekkonen family.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Lepikko-säätiö

Admission & discounts

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 museum is located in Pielavesi at Urho Kekkosentie 121.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The café at Lepikon torppa is open only in summer (tel. 040 489 4827, kahvio@lepikontorppa.fi).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit