Rauman museo

About the museum

The Rauman museo is one of Finland’s oldest museums. It was founded by citizens of Rauma in 1891, and the town took over responsibility for the museum the following year. The first public exhibitions opened on the upper floor of the Rauma town hall in the early 20th century.

The town hall, completed in 1776, is one of two 18th-century town halls in Finland that have survived in their original form; the other is in Porvoo. The ground floor once housed a police station, and the upper floor the town administration. The restored building reopens to the public on 6 November 2026. A new exhibition and a visitor centre will be built there, presenting Rauma’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Old Rauma and Sammallahdenmäki.

Alongside local cultural history, the museum has a special responsibility for recording and preserving the tradition of Rauma bobbin lace. The museum’s sites also include Kirsti, the home of a seaman and craftsman since 1979, and Marela, the home of a shipowner since 1982, as well as a potter’s workshop. After the municipal merger, the Kodisjoki Smith’s croft (torppa) and the Makasiini storehouse came under the museum’s care in 2007. The Rauman historia- ja taidemuseo (Rauma History and Art Museum) was merged into the Rauma city museums in 2019.

Highlights

• Rakkaudella, Rauma (With Love, Rauma) permanent exhibition on the town’s history and its residents’ lives
• World Heritage visitor centre: Old Rauma and Sammallahdenmäki
• The Rauma bobbin lace tradition
• Town hall completed in 1776 in the centre of Old Rauma
• The Kistupuad museum shop

Permanent exhibitions

• Rakkaudella, Rauma – The basic exhibition tells of Rauma’s history and its residents’ lives, and of how the town was built and how it came through difficult times.
• Maailmanperintökeskus – The visitor centre presents Rauma’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Old Rauma and Sammallahdenmäki.

Founded

1891

Operated by

Rauman kaupunki

Admission & discounts

Winter prices apply from 1 September to 30 April, and summer prices from 2 May to 31 August. One ticket is valid at Marela, the Rauma Art Museum and Kirsti, and is valid for two days. Cash, bank card, Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) and ePassi are accepted. Duty museum: on selected Wednesday evenings one of the city’s museums is open 16:00–19:00, and visitors can choose the admission fee themselves.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The restoration plans include a barrier-free entrance, an exhibition on the ground floor that is accessible without steps, the museum shop, and a barrier-free toilet in the yard. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The town hall is located in Old Rauma at Kauppakatu 13.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The Kistupuad museum shop sells the work of local craftspeople, lace and the museum’s own products, such as publications. The shop is open during the building’s opening hours.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit