The National Museum of Finland Guide
Journey Through Time: Explore Finnish History at the National Museum Guide
The National Museum of Finland in Helsinki is a treasure trove of Finnish history and culture, offering visitors a comprehensive journey through the nation's past, from prehistoric times to the present day. Housed in a magnificent National Romantic style building, the museum's exhibits showcase artifacts, art, and stories that illuminate the evolution of Finnish society, traditions, and identity. It's a must-visit for anyone seeking to understand the rich heritage of Finland. The museum's history dates back to the 19th century, with the initial collections gathered by various historical societies. The current building, designed by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen, was completed in 1916. Its architecture is inspired by Finnish medieval churches and castles, reflecting the nation's historical roots. The museum's collections have grown significantly over the years, encompassing a wide range of objects that represent different periods and aspects of Finnish life. Visitors to the National Museum of Finland can explore a diverse range of exhibits. The prehistoric section showcases archaeological finds that reveal the earliest inhabitants of Finland. The historical section covers the medieval period, the era of Swedish rule, and the period of Russian autonomy. The 20th-century section explores Finland's independence, wars, and social development. The museum also features a fascinating collection of Finnish folk art and ethnographic objects. While the museum doesn't have a dedicated culinary section, it's a great starting point to learn about Finnish traditions, including food culture. After your visit, explore nearby restaurants to sample traditional Finnish dishes like salmon soup (lohikeitto), reindeer stew (poronkäristys), and Karelian pies (karjalanpiirakka).
Transportation
The National Museum of Finland is easily accessible by public transportation. You can take tram lines 4, 7A, or 10 to the 'Kansallismuseo' stop, which is directly in front of the museum. Alternatively, you can take bus lines 24, 40, 70, 25, 25A, 69, 70T, 71, 71V, 72, 73N, 74N, 75, 75A, 77, 78, 78A, 79, 79B, 415N, 431N, 435N, 436, 437, 444, 455, 456, 457, 465, 466, 467, 469, 471, 474, 476, 477, 479, 487, 488, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 500, 510, 518, 519, 520, 522, 523, 525, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 550A, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 560, 561, 562, 563, 565, 566, 567, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 587, 588, 614, 615, 616, 617, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 632, 633, 635, 638, 639, 641, 643, 665, 667, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 689, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 717, 718, 719, 721, 722, 723, 724, 739, 743, 745, 747, 748, 749, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 801, 802, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988 to the 'Kansallismuseo' stop.