Möhkö Ironworks Museum, Ilomantsi, Finland

Möhkö Ironworks was built in the middle of wilderness in the eastern part of Ilomantsi, by Möhkönkoski rapids of Koitajoki river. Ilomantsi born Carl G. Nygren was granted to build the ironworks in 1838. After him the factory was built by Adolf von Rauch from St. Petersburg between 1847 and 1849. Industrialist Nils Ludvig Arppe modernised the ironworks.

The conditions for the foundation of ironworks were lake ore lifted from the bottom of approximately a hundred lakes, cheap charcoal, water routes for transport and hydro power of the Möhkönkoski rapids. Möhkö was the one of the largest ironworks in Finland and it employed 2000 people. Thanks to the ironworks, Möhkö grew into a village of 600 people. The factory maintained a shop, a school, a library and a reading room.

The ironworks was closed down in 1908 because of distant location and the falling of the rocky ore prices. W. Gutzeit & Co. bought the factory and the forests. After the ironworks had been shut down, lumbering and log floating work provided a living for the people of Möhkö and Ilomantsi.

The Second World War destroyed Möhkö badly. It took away approximately a third of the territory of Ilomantsi. The automatisation of lumbering and migration to towns quitened Möhkö in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Today Möhkö ironworks area functions as the factory museum. The ruins of blast furnace, massive waterwheel and unique, restored channels tell the stories of Möhkö ironworks. Pytinki Museum Shop serves customers. Several events are held in the area in summer season.

Reference: Möhkö Ironworks Museum

Address

Möhköntie, Ilomantsi, Finland

See all sites in Ilomantsi

Details

Founded: 1838-1908
Category: Industrial sites in Finland
Historical period: Russian Grand Duchy (Finland)

More Information

www.mohkonruukki.fi
www.mohko.net
www.museot.fi

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Hattuvaara Tsasouna (32,4 km)
Ilomantsi Church (19,4 km)
Ilomantsi Orthodox Church (19,3 km)

User Reviews

joha S (9 months ago)
A wonderful and interesting place in the easternmost village of Finland. The exhibition was interesting and the milieu was wonderful and well maintained. A nice bridge on the way to the wood sports park and the stream was also a place I had never seen anywhere before.

Marion Vahtre (2 years ago)
Nice open air museum to visit. Modern art and history and nature in nice combo

Boris Sinilaakso (3 years ago)
A well-executed iron museum. The children's room was fun and all the miniatures told everything essential about the ironworks area, as well as the processing of lake ore.

Iida (3 years ago)
A nice, clear and well-executed museum exhibition. The subject areas were very broad, and some places were still left untouched. The contemporary artworks placed inside the buildings brought a good contrast to counterbalance the work of the past. All in all, a very good and beautiful museum tour. The price is very cheap and Möhkön's Manta offers good, inexpensive coffee and sandwich bread/cake.

Kauko Hiltunen (3 years ago)
A very interesting place where the work achievements of past generations can be seen in many different fields. Good parking spaces for larger vehicles as well.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.

Möhkö Ironworks Museum