A must for history buffs, this modern museum presents 11,000 years of Pärnu history on two floors, with additional space for temporary exhibitions. The main exhibit shows local developments from Neolithic times right up to the late 1980s, and includes a mini-cinema showing archival films. The institution's pride and joy is the so-called 'Stone Age Madonna'. At around 8,000 years old, it is the oldest known human-shaped sculpture in the Baltic Sea area. Other star attractions include a fragment of a 14th-century merchant ship and a glass floor that lets you look down onto archaeological remnants of one of the town's historic gates.
This summer's major exhibition is 'KINGS AND GUARDS' (from June 7), introducing visitors to rare historical weapons and armor from Peter Mustonen’s collection. More than 130 items from Europe, Persia and India, as well as famous Myochini family in Japan, give an extraordinary view into the lives of vikings, knights and samurais.