ESTONIAN OPEN AIR MUSEUM    Vabaõhumuusemi tee 12, 13521 Tallinn    Ph: +372 65 49 101, e-mail: info @ evm.ee  

 WHAT DO WE OFFER IN ESTONIAN OPEN AIR MUSEUM EVERY DAY IN 2010?

* Estonian 18th-20th century village architecture and everyday life. 12 farms of the museum provide an overview of how families of different subsistence lived in olden times. Like in any proper village there is a church, an inn, a school, mills, a fire station and net sheds by the sea.
* Guided tours (also available with audio guide) (order: phone 6549 100)
* Exhibitions in Pulga and Jüri-Jaagu farms and in the stable of Kolu Inn. Architectural exhibition in Sassi-Jaani farm (in summer).
* Nature trail. The nature trail was renewed in 2009. For those interested, we advise to buy a small booklet in the museum shop to familiarize oneself with the sights. The trail is perfect for getting acquainted with nature both individually and in a group.
* Horse rides and domestic animals. Cat Hanno – in Kuie School; horses Hubert, Ulaan and Amoros – in summer one of them is waiting at the horse stop by Kolu Inn. Pigs on Pulga farm, sheep on Sepa farm. You can also meet deer, foxes, elks and other wild animals, but it is not advisable to get too close to them.
* Playgrounds for kids by Kolu Inn and on the swing ground by the sea.
* Bicycle, sledge and cart rent (at the main entrance of the museum)
* Handicraft gifts and souvenirs in the museum shop
* Traditional cuisine in Kolu Inn
* Leigarid folk dance ensemble performs every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 in Sassi-Jaani farm (in summer).

Making handicraft and preparing food:
Nuki farm – women’s handicraft
10th May – 19th September, every day 10:00 – 18:00
You will get a good overview of different kind of handicraft and may even try it yourself. Introduction of dry felting, cold forging, making of Muhu slippers, embroidering, straw work, making of traditional dolls.

Köstriaseme farm – weaving
29th May – 3rd August, every Saturday and Sunday 10:00 – 18:00
Weaving looms are set up in the front chamber of Köstriaseme farm. An old proverb has it that warping on Saturdays or Sundays provides good fabric. We, too, try to set up weaving on those days.

Pulga farm – spinning and carding of wool
4th June -28th August on Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 – 18:00
On Pulga farm wool is carded and yarn is spun. An ancient way of spinning can be tried out with a spindle consisting of a wooden stick with a little hook or a cusp for fixing the thread on the upper part of it, and a weigh made of clay, stone, metal or bone. You can also try spinning by using a more fashionable tool – a spinning-wheel. It is also possible to find out about nalbinding (similar to modern knitting and crochet).

Härjapea farm – folk costume workshop ‘From garters to pottmüts (a pot-shaped cap)’
June, July and August every Saturday 11:00 – 16:00
On Härjapea farm (occasionally in other farms) different elements of the folk costume are introduced – from garters to pot-shaped caps and from traditional footwear to elegantly embroidered blouses. Items from the museum’s textile collection serve as a good illustrative material.

Härjapea farm –preparing food
Baking bread: 15th-17th January, 19th-21st February, 19th-21st March, 12th-14th November, 10-12 December
Cuisine of the 1920s-30s: June, July and August on Sundays 11:00-15:00

Härjapea talu – making masks for St Martin’s Day
On Sunday, 7th November, we make masks for St Martin’s beggars like it was done 100 years ago. Formerly St Martin’s masks were made by using all kind of handy things like birch bark, moss, branches, etc. Tow was used to make beards and hair. The masks looked quite scary and were meant to cover the faces of disguised beggars. It was important to make one impossible to recognize. We also demonstrate various customs of St Martin’s Day.

Härjapea farm – making masks for St Catherine’s Day
On Sunday, 21st November, we make masks for St Catherine’s beggars and introduce customs related to St. Catherine’s Day. St Catherine’s beggars were dressed predominantly in white. In the 20th century they decorated their clothes with numerous ribbons, bows, spangles and beads. Veils were often used to hide faces. Artificial braids were made of flax, fabric or other handy material. The most important thing was to make one look beautiful.


NB! Be sure to take a virtual tour around the museum on our homepage www.evm.ee (in English: http://www.evm.ee/keel/eng/ )
In addition to scenic sights here one can find information about history of the Estonians and the farm complexes of the museum. Each tour (Kolu Inn, Roosta, Jüri-Jaagu, Pulga, Köstriaseme and Sassi-Jaani farms) is supplemented by a respective photo gallery.
Virtual tour will be updated in the first half of this year.
We were happy to find out that the museum’s virtual tour has already attracted attention of The New York Times commentator!