Rovaniemen kotiseutumuseo

About the museum

The Rovaniemen kotiseutumuseo operates at the Pöykkölä farm on the bank of the Kemijoki river. The farm has been known from documents since the 17th century. The Pöykkö family owned it until the early 20th century, and in 1911 the farm was bought by Kemi Oy. In 1957 the farm passed to the Kotiseutuyhdistys Rovaniemen Totto ry (Rovaniemi Totto Local Heritage Association), which still owns and maintains the museum.

The log main building dates from the 1840s and stands in its original place; it is one of the few farmyards on the banks of the Kemijoki that survived the Lapland War. The farmyard’s puovi (storehouse) and two grain barns are also original. The other museum buildings have been moved to the site from different parts of Rovaniemi. The area has about twenty numbered log and timber buildings, including dwelling houses, granaries, cattle sheds, a smoke sauna, a boathouse, a threshing barn, a forge and a machinery section, as well as the Uula mill and the Myllypirtti (Mill Cabin).

The collections include objects, photographs, sound and film recordings and documents about old Rovaniemi farms, as well as the association’s archive. Visitors can get to know the objects of the working collection and try them out on guided tours and in workshops.

Highlights

• Main building of the Pöykkölä farm from the 1840s
• About 20 historic log and timber buildings
• Smoke sauna, threshing barn, forge and granaries
• Children’s museum trail with the mascot Myllytonttu (Mill Elf)
• Object, photograph and archive collections

Founded

1957

Operated by

Kotiseutuyhdistys Rovaniemen Totto ry

Admission & discounts

Admission is €6 or €4. Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Payment is in cash or by card. The association’s short museum presentation and the longer tour with a travel guide are chargeable; prices are set out in the association’s price list.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The children’s museum trail follows the museum’s mascot, Myllytonttu (Mill Elf).

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café sells small snacks. The museum shop is open during the museum’s opening hours. The toilets are at the river end of the red Puovi building. The site has a lakeside sauna, and spaces that can be rented.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The spaces are suitable for meetings, parties, training and recreation; the sauna can be rented separately.

Plan your visit