Postcards bring Käkisalmi's history to life in Heinola
The past of Kexholm opens in a new thematic exhibition, which is on display at the Kexholm Museum in Heinola from 28 April to 31 May 2026. Postcards from Käkisalmi – from the city of apple blossoms the exhibition is based on the new book of the same name and highlights the city's history through a unique collection of postcards.
The exhibition features postcards from various eras, ranging from the early 20th century to the years of the Continuation War. Through the images, the development of Kexholm is outlined from an idyllic wooden town into a bustling borderland centre – and ultimately into an urban environment lost to the destruction of war. The postcards on display depict, among other things, Kexholm Castle, churches, streets, spas, and the landscapes of the Vuoksi and Lake Ladoga.
The whole is complemented by a comprehensive map, which marks the locations of the subjects depicted on the postcards. With the help of the map, visitors can connect historical images to concrete locations and perceive the city's structure in a new way.
The exhibition is based on a book funded by the Käkisalmi Foundation, compiled by Postdoctoral Researcher Merja Uotila from the University of Jyväskylä, along with Eeva-Liisa Poutanen and Ulla Pihla-Kohopää from the Käkisalmi Foundation. The material in the book is primarily based on Matti Parkkinen's extensive postcard collection, supplemented by donations from private individuals.
In the exhibition, postcards function not only as visual documents but also as tools of communication of their time. They tell about everyday life, celebrations and the environment in a way that makes the past easily accessible and experiential.
The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to pause by the lost city – to experience its beauty, diverse cultural life and the shore landscapes of Lake Ladoga through images that have preserved the memories of a time that no longer exists.
