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Historical Sights of Kemijärvi

The town of Kemijärvi has managed to preserve some important culturally historic sights, such as, the monument to the first permanent settlement in Halosenniemi, the clock tower and a monument to the birthplace of the Finnish Cooperative Movement pioneer Hannes Gebhard. The inner courtyard of the State Offices (Virastotalo) probably has the only remaining flogging pine spot in Northern Finland. The grounds of the Kemijärvi Ethnographic Museum show peasant life of the turn of the twentieth century.

Many old snowmobiles and other material connected with snowmobiling are found in the Snowmobile Museum. Also rides by old Bombardier are available. Open as agreed.

Historial boards (1 - 14) are situated in the Kemijärvi city centre. They tell you old stories and give lots of information by textx and photos. It’s nice to have a short walk, enjoy the nature and have a look at these historical boards. Find the map attached, the translations of the board themes are here:

1 LIFE AT THE EDGE OF THE KEMI RIVER WATER SYSTEM
2 KEMIJÄRVI CHURCH AND BELL TOWER
3 TRADESMEN
4 A NEW BEGINNING
5 THE KEMIJÄRVI DAIRY BECOMES AN ARTISTS’ RESIDENCY
6 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
7 KEMIJÄRVI VILLAGE, 16 JULY 1936
8 VAPAUDENKATU STREET
9 KOIVUNIEMI’S SHOP
10 KIRKKOKATU STREET AND LUUSUANTIE ROAD AT THE OUTSET OF THE 1960S
11 LOG-FLOATING
12 UITONNIEMI
13 LOHELA
14 KEMIJÄRVI PRIMARY SCHOOL

War Memorials are situated in Mäntyvaara (20 km from the centre) and the village of Joutsijärvi (25 km from the centre). Memorials of the Period of Great Hate (in 1713-1721), the Winter War (in 1939-1940), the Interwar Year (in 1940-1941), the Military Buildup (in 1941-1944) and the Continuation War (in 1941-1944). Tourists especially like to visit a restored dugout made of reinforced concrete in Joutsijärvi village.

 


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Ethnographic Museum.

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"Brequet". Some text of one historidal board:
The first aeroplane, the French land reconnaissance aeroplane Brequet 14 A (2B 477), landed on Lake Kemijärvi at the rectory shore in the beginning of the 1920s. The Air Force purchased 38 of these Breguet planes during the years 1918-1927. The engine had 260-300 horsepower, a top speed of 180 km/h with a flying time of 5 hours. The propeller that took this plane into the skies was the wonder of the plane’s admirers.