Suomen Siirtolaisuusmuseo

About the museum

The Suomen Siirtolaisuusmuseo has operated in Peräseinäjoki since 2006, and its work is maintained by the Suomen Siirtolaisuusmuseon Tuki ry (Finnish Emigration Museum Support Association). The museum’s task is to document, research and present cultural heritage related to migration. The collections comprise about 15,000 objects, including buildings, objects, photographs, documents, literature and art.

The three-hectare open-air museum area Maailman Raitti (World Street) lies on the shore of Lake Kalajärvi. The first building in the area was the Hakala house, bought with earnings from America, which was built around 1910 in Ilmajoki and moved to its present site in 2006. The area also has the Knuuttila house, donated from Canada, which was originally built in New Finland in Saskatchewan, and a residential barrack for workers on a sugar cane farm, brought from Queensland in Australia.

The Bugeene aspen-log house, built in 1879 by Matti Unkuri, who had been exiled to Siberia, has been erected on Maailman Raitti in its original appearance. In addition to Maailman Raitti, the museum has offices and exhibitions in the Terästalo in the centre of Peräseinäjoki.

Highlights

• Maailman Raitti (World Street), a three-hectare open-air museum area on the shore of Lake Kalajärvi
• Hakala house, Knuuttila house from Canada and the Australian sugar cane farm barrack
• Matti Unkuri’s Bugeene log house
• Collection of about 15,000 objects
• Mobile game Unohdetut terveiset (Forgotten Greetings)

Permanent exhibitions

• Maailman Raitti – The open-air museum area has buildings related to emigration: the Hakala house, the Knuuttila house from Canada, the barrack from the Australian sugar cane farm and the Unkuri house from Siberia.
• Terästalon näyttelyt – In the Terästalo in the centre of Peräseinäjoki are the museum’s offices and exhibitions.

Founded

2006

Operated by

Suomen Siirtolaisuusmuseon Tuki ry

Admission & discounts

The mobile game can be played during opening hours, and the game must be started at the latest one hour before closing time.

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 Maailman Raitti open-air museum area is in Peräseinäjoki on the shore of Lake Kalajärvi. The Terästalo exhibition spaces are at Keikulinkuja 1.

Amenities & dining

Coffee service can be ordered for groups.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Hakala house is rented for meetings and events for 10–20 people all year round; the Unkuri house is rented for small events in summer.

Plan your visit