Vaasan Sotaveteraanimuseo

About the museum

The Vaasan Sotaveteraanimuseo presents war history from the Finnish war until the end of the Continuation War. It holds plenty of material on the stages of the Jäger movement and the Civil War of 1918, as well as objects related to the civil guard and the Lotta Svärd organisations. The collections consist mainly of weapons, decorations, uniforms and weapon equipment. In addition to the main exhibition, the museum has one or two special exhibitions that change every year.

The museum's permanent exhibition begins with the proclamation of Emperor Alexander I in 1808 and proceeds through the period of autonomy to the Jäger movement and the Civil War of 1918. There is a lot of material on the civil guard and Lotta Svärd, and the emphasis is on the Winter War and the Continuation War. The museum also has a library.

The museum is located in the basement of the former Bank of Finland Vaasa branch on Kirkkopuistikko. The Harry Schauman Foundation donated the premises, which were renovated for museum use. The construction work was carried out by voluntary work by war veterans and later by former boy soldiers (sotilaspojat), and former Lottas and home-front women have also taken part in the renovation and upkeep. The museum is run by the Pohjanmaan Maanpuolustuskilta (Österbottens Försvarsgille), which belongs to the Maanpuolustuskiltojen liitto (Federation of Home Defence Guilds).

Highlights

• Military history from the proclamation of Alexander I to the end of the Continuation War
• Objects from the Jäger movement and the Civil War of 1918
• Civil guard and Lotta Svärd material
• Weapons, decorations and uniforms
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Suomen sotahistoria 1800-luvulta jatkosotaan – Weapons, decorations and weapon equipment, along with material on the Jäger movement, the Civil War of 1918, the civil guard and Lotta Svärd, with the emphasis on the Winter War and the Continuation War.

Operated by

Pohjanmaan Maanpuolustuskilta (Österbottens Försvarsgille)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission. A coin box for veterans thanks visitors for their voluntary support.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is on Kirkkopuistikko in central Vaasa, in the basement of the former Bank of Finland Vaasa branch.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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