Raahe Museum, Local history museum in Raahe, Finland
Raahe Museum is a specialized museum housed in a preserved customs building from 1848 that displays maritime artifacts, natural specimens, and historical objects. The collection includes items related to seafaring, animal specimens, and everyday objects that reflect life in this coastal town.
Carl Robert Ehrström founded the museum in 1862, establishing it as Finland's oldest local history museum. The building itself, originally constructed as a customs house in 1848, was repurposed to house the growing collection of artifacts.
The wooden carvings from the 17th century created by French artist Mikael Balt depict biblical scenes and remain on display for visitors to see. These pieces offer insight into the artistic traditions and spiritual beliefs that shaped the community long ago.
The museum is located at Rantakatu 33 and is easily reached on foot, while several nearby sites such as the Shipowner's Home and the Old Pharmacy offer additional places to visit. Visitors should plan to spend several hours exploring the collections across the main building and these neighboring locations.
The museum houses The Old Gentleman, an 18th-century diving suit made from calf leather, recognized as the oldest preserved diving suit in the world. This remarkable artifact demonstrates early human attempts to work and explore underwater.
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