Suojeluskunta- ja Lotta Svärd -museo

About the museum

The museum operates in the district house of the South Ostrobothnia Civil Guard in central Seinäjoki, designed by Alvar Aalto. The house, together with its outbuildings, was built in 1924–1926 by Civil Guard members as voluntary labour. The three-storey main building is regarded as one of Aalto’s key works from his pre-functionalist classicist period, and original material and paint surfaces from 1925 are still visible. The building was protected under the Finnish Building Protection Act in 2002.

From 1926 the house housed the offices of the South Ostrobothnia Civil Guard district and the Lotta Svärd organisation, and the head of the Civil Guard district lived with his family on the top floor. After the wars the premises were used by, among others, a youth association, a summer university and the South Ostrobothnia Federation. In July 1988 the regional museum opened a few rooms to the public, and the house has operated as a museum since autumn 1990.

The museum presents the activities of the Civil Guards, the Lotta Svärd and the Jägers. In 2020 the exhibition Veteraanien perintö (The Legacy of the Veterans) opened in the museum and became part of the permanent exhibition. In the inner courtyard stands the Suojeluskuntalainen (Civil Guard Member) statue by sculptor Pentti Papinaho. The museum is currently closed.

Highlights

• Alvar Aalto-designed district house of the Civil Guard from 1924–1926
• Veteraanien perintö (The Legacy of the Veterans) exhibition as part of the permanent exhibition
• Suojeluskuntalainen (Civil Guard Member) statue in the inner courtyard
• Protected building with its original surfaces

Permanent exhibition

• Veteraanien perintö – Exhibition opened in 2020, part of the museum’s permanent exhibition.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Seinäjoen kaupunki

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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 central Seinäjoki at Kauppakatu 17.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The main building has an information desk and a museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.