The Regional Museum of Northern Priladozhye, located in the city of Sortavala, is a local history museum that everyone interested in the history of this region should visit.

The museum was founded in 1992, and its first exhibits came from the Valaam State Museum-Reserve. The core of the collection consisted of 2,000 diverse items related to the history and everyday life of the region. Over time, the museum has significantly expanded, and now its holdings include more than 15,000 exhibits, including paintings, graphics, numismatics, books, and documents. The collection has also been supplemented with geological exhibits collected by specialists. In 2007, the museum was named after the local historian T. A. Hakkarainen.

The museum is located in a building known as the city estate of Doctor Winter, which is an architectural monument built in 1903. The design of the building was entrusted to specialists from the Vyborg architectural bureau E. Gustavson and A. Shulman.

The wooden mansion has preserved its historical layout and facades. Many tourists are first captivated by its decorations from the street and then decide to visit the museum. The house is richly decorated with wooden ornaments, among which one can see images of eagles, whales, and other animals, as well as numerous plant motifs.

The building was constructed for the first owner of the estate during the time when Sortavala was a Finnish city. Gustav Winter, a well-known surgeon and public figure in Finland, sold the estate to the city in 1920. Since then, it has housed various institutions: first a restaurant, then a school. After World War II, during the Soviet period, the estate housed a House of Pioneers, and part of the premises was allocated for apartments. After a fire in the house, a kindergarten operated there for almost 40 years. Despite the frequent change of owners, the house has remained in good condition, which can be considered a true miracle.

The Regional Museum of Northern Priladozhye features one permanent exhibition that allows visitors to learn about the region's history from ancient times. The earliest exhibits date back to around 2 million years ago. The museum continues to receive interesting items related to Karelia from the public, and the scientific staff actively seeks exhibits related to the second half of the 20th century.

To gain the most comprehensive understanding of the region's history, it is recommended to take a guided tour of the museum, which can be ordered for both groups and individuals. Museum staff also conduct walking tours of Sortavala, allowing visitors to hear about the city from an experienced local historian.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions showcasing rare items from its collections that are usually not available for viewing.

A small souvenir shop operates at the museum, where visitors can purchase something to remember Sortavala by. The shop offers not only souvenirs but also books.

The museum's exhibition covers three main themes: nature, history, and the people of the region. Throughout its history, Sortavala has been both Swedish and Finnish, which is reflected in the museum's halls. Here, one can find the armor of Swedish warriors and household items of Finnish peasants.

Particular attention is drawn to the mineral collection "Stone Keys of Sortavala," which includes over four hundred rock samples. Among them is sortavalite, named after the city, as well as Ruskeala marble and Serdobol granite.

The museum regularly hosts lectures where scientific staff talk not only about the history of Sortavala but also about many settlements in Northern Priladozhye, such as Vyrtsilya, Lyaskelya, Ruskeala, and Puikkola. Lectures can be attended with either single or subscription tickets.

The museum also organizes themed celebrations. For example, the event "Night at the Museum" annually attracts history enthusiasts from not only Sortavala but also from other cities.