Gold Museum

Learn about Lapland gold rushes and try gold panning!

A museum exhibit featuring mining artifacts, wooden mining equipment, historical photos, and a small log cabin replica, all displayed under bright lighting on a tiled floor.

A group of people stand around water-filled tubs, panning for gold with metal pans indoors. The setting has wooden structures and a mural of trees and mountains in the background.

A gold pre-Columbian artifact depicting a stylized human figure with turquoise inlays, wearing an elaborate headdress and detailed robe, displayed against a dark background.

A museum exhibit with yellow display panels, historical photos, and text about exploration. A sled with suitcases and snowshoes is in the center, and a large illustration of a bearded person is on the right panel.

A rough, yellowish gold nugget sits on a large, scratched metal plate outdoors, with blurred greenery in the background.

Three rough gold nuggets rest on the textured surface of a dark, weathered tree stump, showing their natural, irregular shapes and metallic sheen.

A black wooden building labeled Kultamuseo International Placer Goldmining Museum stands in a snowy landscape, surrounded by snow-covered trees and deep snowbanks.

A cozy museum exhibit features a wooden cabin entrance with historical photos and displays inside; nearby, a table holds pamphlets and plates, and a glass case displays artifacts.

A rustic log cabin kitchen with a hanging lantern, colander, and shelves holding mugs, jars, and photos. Below, a table has a pot, bowl, cutting board, and wooden utensils. Logs and rough wood planks make up the walls and ceiling.

A bronze statue of a seated figure is displayed on a large rock beside a small pond, surrounded by stones and trees, with a rustic wooden cabin in the background.

A black wooden building labeled KULTAMUSEO stands among trees. A pathway, a bench, and a sign are near the entrance, with flowers and greenery surrounding the area on a sunny day.

The world’s only international Gold Museum

Tankavaara is home for the only international museum in the world displaying past and present of gold panning and prospecting.

The main exhibition, The History of Gold in Lapland, introduces you to 150 years of gold prospecting in Lapland, starting with the Ivalojoki gold rush in 1868. The international exhibition Golden World takes you on a journey around the world to discover the gold traditions of more than 20 countries, from ancient Rome to the Klondike. Exhibition texts are available in 28 languages.

Gold panning all year round

At Gold Museum, you can try your hand at gold panning in guided workshops – and all the found gold and gemstones are yours to keep! Check for the available times at our website.

Gold Museum is open all year round:
October-May: Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
June-September: Mon-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Welcome to Gold Museum!

Gold Museum

The world’s only international Gold Museum

Gold panning all year round

Contact information