Imatra wildlife and nature museum now expected to open in the 2030s

The planned national wildlife and nature museum in Imatra will likely not open until the 2030s, according to the Finnish Wilderness Museum Foundation.

Earlier estimates had placed the opening in spring 2028, but foundation CEO Uula Neitola said museum projects typically take five to ten years from conception to completion. The foundation has been developing the Imatra project since 2021, when the city was selected as the museum’s location.

The museum will occupy the former Imatra city hall, which is also set to house other related operators under the collective name Eräkeskus (Wilderness Centre). The building will first temporarily host the Virta cultural centre during its renovation.

Preparations include extensive research, collection building, and exhibition planning. The architectural design for converting the city hall into a museum was completed in 2025.

Unlike the existing hunting-focused museum in Riihimäki, the Imatra museum will emphasize fishing, wilderness culture, and recreational forest use. It will incorporate collections such as those donated by the Finnish Fishing Museum Association.

State funding, required for both establishment and operations, has not yet been secured. The next opportunity to apply for such funding will be in 2027.

Riihimäki’s museum recently rebranded as the Wilderness and Hunting Museum and is also seeking national responsibility status for wilderness culture starting in 2027. Neitola acknowledged the potential for confusion but stated both projects can coexist.