Museum A-Ö » Special museum » Nanoq

In the arctic museum Nanoq are displayed cultures and customs of the arctic regions side by side with South and North Pole exploration. In the unique surrounding of the area you can explore the extensive collection of hunting weapons, tools and the expeditions’ equipment as well as the explorers’ breath-taking stories of their excursions and life of the Inuit. Get acquainted with a genuine turf hut, sense the ambiance of a wooden church or enjoy a cup of coffee in the art gallery.

Nanoq is the first arctic museum in Finland. It was opened for the public in 1991. The founder of the museum, Pentti Kronqvist, got the idea for the museum during his own polar expeditions, inspired by the items he collected. The exemplar of the Nanoq main building is a North Greenlandic turf hut. The turf hut in question is considered the most northerly habitation in the world! Just as the North Greenlandic turf huts blend in with their surroundings and conform to different seasons, so does Nanoq gracefully blend in with the surrounding nature. The only difference is, that the museum is furnished and equipped in a modern way.

In the vitrines and on the walls of the museum are hunting weapons, tools, musical instruments, clothes, trousers made of polar bear skin, canoes and many other items from the 17th century to the present day. Here can be seen objects from Greenland, Northern Scandinavia and Canada. One rarity is the soapstone collection made by the Inuit of Northern Canada. The expeditions’ equipment, photographs and Kronqvist’s own equipment as well illuminate the fascinating stories of various human fates. One example of them is the story of Umberto Nobile. Nobile traveled to the North Pole with an aircraft in 1926. The polar explorers, for instance Amundsen or Peary, learned the survival techniques of the Inuit in order to succeed on their expeditions. Nordenskiöld was the first person in the world to sail through the Northern Sea Route in 1878-1880.

On the Nanoq area are about ten diverse buildings, and one of them is a genuine North Greenlandic turf hut. Another building worth a visit is the church, which is a replica of one of the most northerly churches in Northwest Greenland. In addition to the houses connected with everyday life on the area have also been relocated some Ostrobothnian buildings, for instance a smoke sauna. There is an extensive library and movie archive in Nanoq. The museum has been developed into an information and research centre of the arctic cultures.

In the Goichman Gallery is on view the art exhibition of professor and artist Wladimir Goichman. Goichman participated in several Soviet explorations and also traveled together with Kronqvist. He made his last polar expedition at the age of 89. Diverse special exhibitions take place every summer in the gallery. During Jakob’s Days in July an oper-air church service is arranged on the area.