The Border of Memories Museum

The Border of Memories Museum records the national defence and military history of the Kontiolahti region. The museum brings objects, stories and different types of memories from the region back to the region.

As its name suggests, the Border of Memories Museum uses the interfaces of different memories to examine the Kontioranta and Kontiolahti area: what kind of memories, people, organisations, battles, wars and activities existed or took place here?

Learn about these interfaces in the experience-based rooms of the museum: a dugout that dates back to the Continuation War takes you back to the time of trench warfare, the forest of the fallen illustrates the harsh reality of war, The Terror of Morocco tells the story of Aarne Juutilainen, and the garrison barracks illustrate the history of the North Karelia brigade.

The museum theme combines the idea of Kontiolahti as Finland’s easternmost geographical border area and its position as an important region in terms of national defence while simultaneously using the museum’s name to highlight the threat of losing our memories. When do we step over the border of losing contact with memories and the people who carry them?