Parkanon metsämuseo

About the museum

The Parkanon metsämuseo presents the history of forestry work, from the rise of the sawmill industry in the 1860s to mechanisation in the 1960s. The museum is maintained by the City of Parkano. Forestry work provided a livelihood for many local families in the Parkano area, and in the early 1900s horses and various timber-harvesting machines joined manual labour.

The museum grounds include an exhibition hall, a logging cabin (savottakämppä), a sauna, a horse stable and forestry machines. The logging cabin was brought to the site from the Seitsemisen kallio pond, and the stable houses a nature exhibition. In August 2007 the exhibition Polkuja metsään (Paths into the Forest) opened, produced by the Pirkanmaa Nature Conservation District; it was the first permanent exhibition on forest conservation in Finnish museums.

An Kustaa-hirven luontopolku (nature trail, 2 km) runs across the museum grounds, and from the museum the Käpykintukan vaellusreitti (hiking route, about 7 km) leads to the Käenkoski Centre. The forest museum is also one of the Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas Geopark sites in Parkano.

Highlights

• History of forestry work from the 1860s to the 1960s
• Logging cabin, sauna, horse stable and forestry machines
• Polkuja metsään (Paths into the Forest) exhibition on forest conservation
• Kustaa-hirven luontopolku nature trail (2 km)
• Käpykintukan hiking route to the Käenkoski Centre (about 7 km)

Permanent exhibitions

• Metsätöiden historia – The exhibition hall, logging cabin, sauna, horse stable and forestry machines show how forestry work developed.
• Polkuja metsään – Permanent exhibition on the importance of forests, changes in forest nature and the history of forest conservation; opened in August 2007.

Operated by

Parkanon kaupunki

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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 forest museum can be navigated without barriers. The Kustaa-hirven luontopolku nature trail has boardwalks and small changes in level, so it is not fully accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

There are eight information boards along the Kustaa-hirven luontopolku nature trail that encourage action and reflection; the texts on the boards have also been translated into English.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Rännärinmuseotie 112. The area has a beach, lean-tos (laavu) and campfire sites.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.