Vaasan työväenmuseo

About the museum

The Vaasan työväenmuseo presents the traditions and history of the labour movement, mainly through photographs and various objects. The museum operates in the Palosaari association building, which suits it well, as Palosaari was for a long time a workers' district after industrialisation began. The cotton mill employed up to 1,500 people, and the sugar factory and steam mill also provided work. The association building was built by voluntary community work in the 1950s and 1960s.

The permanent exhibition tells of the history of Vaasa's workers and the labour movement from the 1850s to the 1990s through pictures, press clippings and objects. The most important task of the labour movement was to fight for workers' rights, but it also organised dances and theatre performances. The second part of the permanent exhibition is Fanny's home: Fanny Männistö earned her living at the bakery of the Työväenosuusliike (Workers' Co-operative Society) and was active in workers' associations. After her death her relatives donated her movable property to the museum, and from it an exhibition on the life and everyday of the präntööläiset has been assembled.

The museum has a library of about 4,800 volumes on social topics and fiction, as well as an archive with newspapers, clippings, documents and many photographs from 1862 to the 1990s. Changing theme exhibitions deal with the activities of labour organisations and the history of work.

Highlights

• Fanny's home: life and everyday of the präntööläiset
• Pictures of Vaasa's labour history from the 1850s to the 1990s
• Library of about 4,800 volumes
• Photograph archive from 1862
• Guided tours available

Permanent exhibitions

• Fannyn koti – The exhibition assembled from Fanny Männistö's movable property tells of the life and everyday of the präntööläiset.
• Kuvia Vaasan työväenhistoriasta – The history of the Vaasa labour movement from the 1850s to the 1950s, through photographs, press clippings and documents.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Limited accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Palosaari association building in Vaasa.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Books and postcards are on sale.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit