Description of the attraction
Currently, the only museum in the city of Sortavala is the Regional Museum of Northern Ladoga. It was founded in 1992, in the building of the former estate of Dr. Winter. The estate itself is a monument of antiquity. It was built in 1903 for a famous Finnish surgeon and public figure. At present, the building of the estate is included in the register of cultural and historical monuments of the Republic of Karelia. The facades and interior of the building have been preserved in their original form. The museum was named so because at the time of its creation it was the only one in the Northern Ladoga area.
The activity of the museum consists in the collection and storage of local history exhibits, research and popularization of both new finds and existing exhibits. The research staff of the museum also conduct excursion and tourist work, lectures and consultations on local history, organize cultural events.
The first exhibits in the museum collection were household items, paintings, graphics and ethnography, which were brought here from the Valaam State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve. Gradually, the museum funds were replenished with exhibits from the museums of schools in nearby villages and the Sortavala technical school.
Currently, the museum's exhibitions present the history of the Ladoga area, starting from ancient times - about 2 million years ago and up to the 1960s. Various collections are presented here. These are written sources, painting, graphics, philocarty, numismatics, ethnography. The age of the items collected by the museum is from the 18th century to the present.
Among the natural science collections, the most interesting and complete is the collection of minerals. The museum organized special expeditions, during which the geological collection was significantly replenished. These are samples of rocks located in the Northern Ladoga area, these are different types of marble: Ruskeala and Yuvensky, Serdobolsky granite. There is also a sortavalite stone, the so-called "branded" stone, which was named after the city, which means it is unique. In addition to local samples, this collection includes minerals and rocks from Karelia, Russia, or other countries of the world. In total, the collection contains over 400 items.
During expeditions to collect exhibits on the territory of the region, unique items were found, such as a spearhead dating back to the 18th century, a bell donated to the city by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf himself in the 17th century, fragments of ancient Swedish armor, knightly armor of the 12th century.
The museum has five exhibition halls reflecting the history of the city of Sortavala. In one of the halls you can learn a lot of interesting things about the architecture of the city and the region. In another room, you can get acquainted with the history of the formation of the Ladoga area, learn a lot of interesting things about the natural resources of the region and its nature, about earthquakes, meteorites and ancient volcanoes. A separate exposition tells about the history of the city of Sortavala, about what kind of people lived here in ancient times, how the region became and developed.
The collection of household items is very interesting - these are items of the 19–20 century. The exhibition contains clothes, spinning wheels, a loom, birch bark toys, copper and wooden dishes. Researchers have prepared an interesting story about the life and life of people in Border Karelia. Experts have collected information about various local rites of the 19th century: wedding, maternity, funeral. A separate showroom "School Country" is dedicated to schoolchildren. The exhibition presents more than 200 authentic items: an old school desk, samples of paper and ink, paper clips, pens, books and textbooks, drawing tools and much more.
In addition to exhibitions, the museum also provides educational services. Scientists give lectures about the life of the ancient inhabitants of Karelia, about the history of the region, about folk holidays and customs, about architecture, culture and art of the peoples of Ladoga. Various theme nights, meetings and competitions are organized in the museum building. This is not just a museum, it is a vibrant cultural center of the city of Sortavala.
