MUSEUM

Tankavaara's Gold Prospector Museum was founded in 1973 to collect and preserve the history of gold discoveries in Finland. The museum, together with its large outdoor areas, demonstrates the life of gold prospectors in pictures, documents, tools and other equipment. The museum has one of the best collections of minerals and gemstones in Finland.

The basic exhibition presents the history of gold prospecting in Lapland starting from the rush to the Ivalojoki River in 1870s and later to the Lemmenjoki River all the way to recent years. The giant goldpan-shaped roof covers the Golden World, the international section of the Gold Prospector Museum with more than 20 countries all over the world.

Inside the museum you can see all kinds of tools, which have been used and are in still use in the gold fields of Lapland. Photo: Matti Kolho.

Gem and mineral exhibition

The collection of gems and minerals is on display in Härkäselän Kultala, a separate log building transferred to Tankavaara in 1970s. The building itself is also worth seeing. It was originally built in 1924 by the legendary gold mining company – Lapin Kulta Oy.

The best souvenir

The panning site in Tankavaara welcomes visitors to test one’s gold panning skills. For the winter we reserve loads of auriferous sand in the indoor panning site of the museum for those who visit the museum during the winter months.

“Auraria”

On the outdoor area of Tankavaara you can see a collection of scale model replicas of interesting buildings from several gold rush centres around the world. They give an overview of the architecture and style of buildings on the gold fields. Compare these buildings to the smithy, dugout dwelling and smoke sauna brought from the gold fields of Lapland.

Gold fever is never cured

Gold is one of the most common metals in the world. As a general rule, recovery is difficult and so gold keeps its value. This ensures that the search never ceases. There isn’t a little chance of gold running out... nor the work of the Gold Prospector Museum.