Suomen Erä- ja metsästysmuseo
A museum in Riihimäki presenting Finnish hunting, fishing and outdoor life through objects, photographs and a library.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The idea of a national hunting museum came up at a general meeting of hunters in 1900, and the decision to found the museum was taken around 30 years later by the board of the Suomen Yleinen Metsästäjäliitto (Finnish General Hunters' Union). Collection gathering began, but the lack of premises and the war years slowed the project. The museum was revived in 1966, and from 1972 it operated in cramped premises in connection with the Porvoon luonnontieteellinen museo (Porvoo Natural History Museum).
In 1980 the Suomen Metsästysmuseoyhdistys (Finnish Hunting Museum Association) was founded, with the task of finding suitable premises for the museum. The City of Riihimäki built the museum building, designed by Professor Osmo Lappo, which was completed in 1990. In the neighbouring former glassworks is the Suomen lasimuseo (Finnish Glass Museum). In 2026 the museum was given the name Suomen Erä- ja metsästysmuseo (Finnish Hunting and Wilderness Museum), and its activities emphasise, in addition to hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation, nature photography and gathering economy.
The museum's collections include over 20,000 objects related to hunting and almost 170,000 photographs. The museum also has a library with a wealth of hunting literature and magazines in Finnish, Swedish and English, as well as an archive. The basic exhibitions give a general overview of the history of Finnish hunting.
Highlights
- Over 20,000 hunting-related objects
- Nearly 170,000 photographs
- Basic exhibitions Eräretkeilyn edelläkävijät (Pioneers of Wilderness Trekking), OTSO and Aseita Suomesta (Weapons from Finland)
- Library and archive on the history of hunting
- Virtual tour online
Permanent exhibitions
- Eräretkeilyn edelläkävijät – The basic exhibition presents the early stages of Finnish wilderness trekking and outdoor recreation.
- OTSO – Suomen metsästyksen varhaiset vaiheet – The basic exhibition tells of the early stages of hunting in Finland.
- Aseita Suomesta – The basic exhibition deals with Finnish firearms.
- Founded
- 1930
- Operated by
- Suomen Metsästysmuseo ry
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6students, pensioners, unemployed people and conscripts |
| Children & teens | €4 |
| Seniors | €6 |
| Students & apprentices | €6 |
| Groups (20+ people) | €6 per personGroups of at least 20 people. |
| Families | €20 |
| Guided museum tour | €40Group admission fees in addition. |
| Guided museum tour at weekends | €70Group admission fees in addition. |
| Special tour with the outdoorsman Erkkilä | €60Group admission fees in addition. |
| Guided tour for a school class | €30Admission fee is free for school groups. |
| Special guided tour for a school group | €40 |
| Special guided tour at weekends | €80 |
Citizens of Ukraine and school pupils with their teachers enter free. Free admission also with a valid hunting licence, the Museokortti and the Kaikukortti.
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 hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Online shop at eramuseum.fi/kauppa.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours and special tours are booked from the museum in advance. A visit outside the museum's opening hours can be arranged at a higher price. |
