Kollaa and Simo Häyhä - museum

The Kollaa and Simo Häyhä Museum was founded in the early 1980s when Kollaa veterans from Rautjärvi decided to establish a museum to pass on their legacy to future generations. After many twists and turns and difficulties, the so-called Kollaa rooms were opened upstairs in the former infirmary building in the barracks area in 1984. Those actively involved in the museum's operations renovated the museum for the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence in 2017, when the museum switched to its current operating format. Regular opening hours and the expansion of exhibitions were added to the operation. At the same time, valuable volunteer power was obtained from the reservists and reserve officers of Rautjärvi for daily operations. It can be said that now the third or fourth generation is continuing the legacy left by the men of Rautjärvi.

The museum is visited by just under 8,000 visitors from all over the world every year.

The museum's operations are run entirely by the work of active volunteers. We do not receive any government support, the municipality is involved in the operation by owning the buildings and taking care of electricity and other payments. In addition, the municipality arranges schoolchildren for summer work at the museum, and the Cooperative Bank has also supported the operation in a valuable way, for example by funding summer jobs for schoolchildren at the museum.

Guided tours can be arranged for groups, in Finnish and/or English, orders are welcome by email to info@kollaamuseo.fi.