Restoration of Rauma Old Town Hall Completed – New Exhibition to Be Built in the Premises
News
The restoration and renovation of Rauma Old Town Hall have been completed. The refurbished building, its surrounding wall and the new courtyard building were received in March. Final work in the courtyard continued during the spring, and the courtyard area and new wooden fence were received on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Next, the Old Town Hall will house the Rauma Museum’s permanent exhibition, a World Heritage visitor centre and a museum shop. The building will open to the public on 16 October 2026.
Exhibitions Present Rauma’s History and World Heritage Sites
The construction of the permanent exhibition on Rauma’s history and the World Heritage visitor centre will begin at the turn of May and June. Exhibitions on the ground floor will focus on World Heritage themes, while the upper floor will present a broader narrative on the city’s history and its residents.
– Rauma Old Town Hall has stood in place for 250 years. This unique building provides excellent facilities for presenting the stages of Rauma’s history, which the new permanent exhibition will explore, says Chief Curator Hanna-Leena Salminen.
The museum shop on the ground floor will expand compared to its previous form, and its furnishings have already been installed. Display cases and their lighting will be installed during June, after which the placement of objects will continue in more detail.
Memorial Plaque for “Bloody Sunday” to Be Installed in the Courtyard
A memorial plaque related to the day known in Rauma as “Bloody Sunday” (14 April 1918), from the final stages of the Finnish Civil War, will be installed on Thursday, 28 May 2026. The plaque will be placed on the wall of an outbuilding in the Old Town Hall courtyard, as the events took place in the area.
– The Finnish Civil War left deep marks on our society for decades. Making events visible, recognising them and remembering them are important ways to strengthen democracy and social cohesion. The memorial plaque also honours the memory of the victims in a dignified manner, explains Museum and Cultural Director Risto Kupari.
The memorial plaque has been commissioned by the Vakka-Suomi Civil Guard Heritage Association and the Rauma Patria-kilta Association.
An Exceptionally Significant Restoration Project
The restoration of the Old Town Hall has been an exceptionally significant project both locally and nationally. Located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building is one of the few surviving 18th-century old town halls in Finland and, alongside Porvoo, unique. The project was carried out simultaneously with the renewal of the Old Rauma town plan, which increased its complexity and required particularly careful planning and extensive studies.
– The completion of the restoration marks one of the most significant milestones in the Old Town Hall’s history. The project was completed largely on schedule and close to the estimated cost of €3.55 million, says Facility Service Director Olli-Pekka Kumpula.
The project was based on strong collaboration and high-level expertise.
– We are very pleased with the competence and commitment of our partners. The design was carried out by leading experts Insinööritoimisto Lauri Mehto Oy and Arkkitehtitoimisto Freese, and the construction by local company Rakennustyöt Ville Kauppi Oy, which demonstrated exceptional capability in a challenging site, Kumpula continues.
As a result of the restoration, the Old Town Hall will become a more open and versatile cultural and museum destination. During the opening celebrations, the public will be able to explore the renovated spaces and exhibitions in a festive atmosphere.
– The opening date has been chosen based on the founding day of Rauma’s museums – the first museum was established on 16 October 1891, Kupari notes.
