Adopt a Monument activities
The Adopt a Monument activities consist of volunteer work related to old buildings and other historic or prehistoric structures.
A group of volunteers (association, company, school, other community or private party) assumes the responsibility for maintaining a site or structure in Espoo that requires care, such as a World War I fortification or ancient settlement. Even something small can have a great deal of significance!
Who can adopt an ancient monument?
The adopting party can be a community, an association, a company or a public body, such as a school. The adoption requires no prior experience in or previous knowledge of maintaining sites that are regarded as part of the cultural environment. The adopters are supported by a work group of the Espoo City Museum.
What do the Adopt a Monument activities involve?
The purpose of the adoption is to increase awareness of important sites within the cultural environment. For example, adopters have collected research data on their respective sites and set up signposts at the locations. Practical maintenance work can also involve clearing away brushwood and other vegetation or picking up litter in accordance with the maintenance plan. The adopters make the sites accessible while bringing joy to themselves and others.
What kinds of sites can be adopted in Espoo?
Archaeological sites that are suitable for adoption include fortifications, stone walls, burial cairns and remnants of ancient piers and settlements. Other suitable sites are small buildings or structures, such as memorials, bathing huts, transformers, bridges or stone signposts. Even something small can have a great deal of significance!
Agreement and maintenance plan
The maintenance activities are based on agreements made by the site owner, the adopting group and the museum. The adoption arrangement can be set up for a long or short period. Even fun shorter projects and volunteer efforts are counted as adoption. A maintenance plan is prepared for each site in cooperation with the Espoo City Museum. The plan serves as a manual for the maintenance efforts.
Adopt a Monument in Finland
The activities in Finland were initiated by Pirkanmaa Regional Museum, but there are now adopted sites in Helsinki, Vantaa, Satakunta and Central Finland as well. For more information, visit www.adoptoimonumentti.fi.
Contact information
Do you have a good adoption site in mind? Please contact KAMU Espoo City Museum.
kirsi.ojala@espoo.fi tai
kulttuuriymparisto@espoo.fi