The Gold History Museum is the only northernmost international museum. It is located in Lapland, in the small village of Tankvaara, an hour's drive north of Sondakylä.
In this area, in the nearby Ivalo River, the first boom of the "gold rush" began in 1868. In the early 1900s, many gold prospecting ventures were opened. Now there is a whole Golden Village with unique expositions. The open-air site features replicas of buildings from different Golden Villages around the world. The exposition is called "Auraria". On its territory, tourists can feel the atmosphere of the times of the gold boom.
The building of the Museum of Gold Mining History is built in the form of a round gold wash trough. It operates year-round and is of state value, which is why it is state-funded. The museum features exhibits from more than 20 countries. The first exposition is dedicated to the history of gold mining in Lapland.
For 35 years the museum has been adding to its collection. Moreover, during this time it has managed to turn into a scientific research centre. Today, the Finnish Open Gold Digging Championship is held here every summer.
If you're lucky, you too can find a large nugget and take it with you. The largest nugget, weighing 39.6 g, was found by a tourist. And in the local bar you can taste liqueur with gold shavings.
