Oulu was a major maritime and port city in the 19th century and the most important tar port in the world. A significant number of the city's inhabitants were seamen by profession at the time. Seamen's families lived on the outskirts of the city in small wooden houses, such as the Matila House, now the Seamen's Home Museum. Dating from 1739, it is the oldest surviving wooden house and has survived the great fires of 19th century Oulu, among other things.

seamen's home museum.fi