The Museum of North Karelia was established shortly after the founding of Finland. The city council of Joensuu approved the museum rules on 28 of December in 1917.
At the beginning, the museum was located in Joensuu City Hall, in the former reading room of the library. There was an antique hall and the Karelian residence in front of the room. The hut was equipped with an in-built furnace pattern, blades, nail poles and orcs. When the City Library in the same building needed more space, the museum exhibition was supposed to close in 1949, however, the museum continued its activities by receiving donations.
The museum opened its doors to the public again in October 1955. It was the House of Karelia in Ilosaari-island, where the Museum of North Karelia operated for almost 40 years.
The North Karelian Museum was named as the Regional Museum in 1980, the staff was added and the activity was rejuvenated. The fluctuating exhibitions got their own space, so the number of visitors grew.
In 1998, the museum moved to its current location in Carelicum, located on the outskirts of the square. The Carelicum Cultural and Tourist Center was also opened in 1998 and it is part of the former North Karelia Savings Bank building, which was designed by Architectural Office Malmivaara & Toivanen Oy. The granite building was completed in 1985. During the opening ceremony of the Finnish Tourist Center, president's wife Eeva Ahtisaari cut off the opening ribbon, supported by museum director Auli Patjas and mayor of Joensuu Juha Hämäläinen.
In the spring of 2016, the museum presented the name Hilma, which took into account its own missions of the museum to protect and preserve the life of North Karelia. Hilma is a crystallization of the Region of North Karelia: a puppy, a laughable, hospitable and uncomplicated mistress who has a hard time in life, including the sorrow of mourning and melancholy, and naturally enough to rejoice. In Hilma's logo there is the ever-present Karelian decorative theme, life tree, which has received modernized shapes.
There is a children’s world “Mukulakatu” in Carelicum. It is an atmospheric wooden town alley with houses, squares and the harbors. It is full of a variety of activities and experiences - all of these are made especially for children. In addition, there are tourist- and city information, ticket sales to events and restaurant cafe Aino-Sofia.
The North Karelia Museum is open every day: on weekdays 10am-5pm and weekends 10am-3pm; Carelicum's customer service is open on weekdays from 10am to 4:30pm and on weekends from 10am to 3pm.