Riemu-museot

About the museum

The Riemu-museot (Riemu Museums) are the joint museum centre of the Riihimäki City Museum and the Riihimäki Art Museum on Temppelikatu. The city museum was founded in 1961, and its first premises were in the civil defence shelter of Eteläinen School. In 1970 the museum moved into a house in the Riihimäki railway park, completed in 1858 as housing for railway officials. In spring 2023 the city board decided to move the city museum into the art museum premises, and exhibition activity in the new premises started gradually in 2023–2024.

The art museum was founded in 1994 and opened to the public on 26 March 1995. It is based on the collection of art and antiques dealer Pentti Wähäjärvi and his wife Tatjana, which they have donated to the City of Riihimäki since 1993. The collection comprises more than 2,100 works, and its core is Finnish art, especially from 1900 to 1970. It includes 36 works by Helene Schjerfbeck, as well as works by Ellen Thesleff, Pekka Halonen and Tyko Sallinen. The museum operates in an office building from the early 1960s, designed by Marjatta and Martti Jaatinen.

The city museum’s collections contain about 20,000 objects, the best known of which is a bog ski (suosuksi) about 2,000 years old from Herajoki. The permanent exhibition tells of Riihimäki from the Stone Age to the present day. The museum also has a department presenting the history of the evacuees from the Antrea parish, since Karelian resettlers were settled in Riihimäki and the neighbouring municipalities.

Highlights

• Riihimäki from the Stone Age to the present day exhibition
• Exhibition space dedicated to Helene Schjerfbeck
• Wähäjärvi art collection of more than 2,100 works
• Bog ski about 2,000 years old
• History of the Antrea evacuees

Permanent exhibitions

• Kertomuksia kaupungista – The city museum exhibition presents Riihimäki from the Stone Age to the future, using photographs, objects and other material.
• Helene Schjerfbeck ja hiljaisuus – The exhibition space dedicated to Helene Schjerfbeck shows works from the art museum’s Wähäjärvi collection, with changing themes; the current theme is Silence (Hiljaisuus).

Founded

1961

Operated by

Riihimäen kaupunki

Admission & discounts

Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Free admission is also available for war veterans, school pupils and teachers from Riihimäki during school time, art teachers, members of the Riihimäen Taidemuseon Ystävät ry (Friends of the Riihimäki Art Museum) and holders of a Kaikukortti (Kaiku card). Payment methods are bank and credit cards, ePassi and Edenred.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

The museums are fully accessible. Visitors can use a personal lift and an accessible toilet, and guide dogs are welcome. Audio description (kuvailutulkkaus) can be ordered for guided tours.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers workshops and museum birthday packages.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

The museum premises can be rented. On weekdays (Tuesday–Friday) the rate is €40 per hour from 11:00 to 17:00 and €100 per hour after 17:00; on Saturdays the rate from 11:00 to 17:00 is €80 per hour, and on weekend evenings €140 per hour. For private events the museum is closed to the public (€100–150 per hour).

Plan your visit