Location: Mannerheimintie 34, Helsinki
Tel. 09- 405 09 544
Bus:
40
Trolley: 4, 10
Open: 11am- 8pm Tue- Wed, 11am- 6pm Thu- Sun
Closed: public holidays
www.nba.fi
The National Museum of Finland is a national museum of
cultural history that, in addition to the National Museum,
is responsible for the operations of Hvitträski, Häme
Castle, Langinkoski, Louhisaari, Olavinlinna, Seurasaari
Outdoor Museum, the Finnish Maritime Museum, Tamminiemi and
the Prison. The National Museum presents the history of
Finland from the Stone Age to the present with the help of
object culture. The National Museum of Finland is part of
the Museum Agency under the Ministry of Education and
Culture.
The National Museum of Finland has
collections of about half a million objects, which are
managed by the museum's collection and research unit and the
Collection Center. There are approximately 120 permanent
staff.
The National Museum building is located in
Helsinki's Etu-Töölö along Mannerheimintie, across from
Finlandia Hall. In the architecture of the National Museum,
features of medieval Finnish churches and castles can be
seen in a nationally romantic way. The style of the museum
strongly reflects Art Nouveau and Art Nouveau features.
Founding and Early History (19th Century Origins)
The museum’s
roots trace back to the late 19th century during the Grand Duchy of
Finland under Russian rule. In 1893, several older collections were
combined to create the State Historical Museum (Valtion historiallinen
museo), which was placed under state care. This was a key moment in the
Finnish national awakening (Kansallinen herääminen), when intellectuals
and artists sought to document and celebrate a distinct Finnish identity
separate from Swedish and Russian influences.
Predecessor collections
included archaeological finds, historical objects, and ethnographic
materials gathered in the 1800s. The establishment reflected broader
European trends of creating national museums to foster cultural
identity. The museum initially operated without a dedicated building
suited to its growing collections.
The Building: National
Romantic Architecture (1902–1916)
A design competition was held in
1902 for a new purpose-built museum. The winning entry came from the
prominent Finnish architectural firm Gesellius, Lindgren & Saarinen
(Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen). Their design
embodied National Romanticism, a style blending Art Nouveau with
medieval Finnish church and castle motifs to evoke national heritage.
Construction ran from 1905 to 1910.
The building features a
castle-like exterior with a prominent tower (58 meters high), turrets,
and reliefs, including a bear statue by sculptor Emil Wikström (1910).
Interiors lean toward Art Nouveau.
The entrance hall ceiling features
stunning Kalevala-themed frescoes by Akseli Gallén-Kallela (painted
1928), based on his earlier work for the 1900 Paris World Fair. These
depict scenes from the Finnish national epic, such as Forging the Sampo
and The Defence of the Sampo. They remain viewable without an entrance
fee.
The museum opened to the public in January 1916, while
Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. Following Finland’s
declaration of independence in 1917, it was renamed the Finnish National
Museum.
20th Century Development and Collections
The museum
rapidly became the central repository for Finland’s material cultural
heritage. Its collections cover:
Prehistory (Stone Age onward)
Medieval to early 20th-century society (Swedish Kingdom period through
Russian Empire era)
Folk culture (18th–19th centuries, rural life
before industrialization)
Numismatics (coins, medals), silver,
jewelry, weapons, and ethnographic items
It also manages or
oversees several other sites, including medieval castles, an open-air
museum, the Maritime Museum, and house museums.
A notable (and later
repatriated) addition was the Mesa Verde collection of Ancestral
Puebloan artifacts from Colorado, donated by explorer Gustaf
Nordenskiöld. It was one of the largest such collections outside the
U.S.; in 2019, a portion was returned to Native American
representatives.
The museum experienced events like a 2006 gas
explosion in the Silver Room (caused by a methane leak from a street
pipe), which damaged artifacts but resulted in no injuries; all items
were repaired.
A major renovation in the late 1990s led to a
reopening in July 2000, updating displays and facilities.
21st
Century: Renovation and Expansion (Ongoing)
As of 2026, the National
Museum is undergoing its largest transformation in history—a major
renovation and expansion project. It closed to the public in October
2023. The historic main building (designed by Saarinen et al.) is being
paired with a new annex by the architectural firm JKMM Architects,
winner of a 2019 design competition.
The project aims to:
Modernize facilities
Improve accessibility
Expand exhibition space
Better accommodate large-scale temporary exhibitions and contemporary
collections
Original estimates targeted a spring 2027 reopening,
but budget cuts have postponed it indefinitely.
The expansion seeks
to blend heritage preservation with modern functionality, including
enhanced public spaces and better integration of the museum into
Helsinki’s cultural landscape (near Parliament House and other
landmarks).
The building was designed by the prominent architectural firm
Gesellius, Lindgren & Saarinen (Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and
Eliel Saarinen). They won the architectural competition in 1902.
Construction took place primarily between 1905 and 1910, and the museum
opened to the public in 1916 (after Finland gained independence in
1917).
This was one of the firm’s major early works, alongside
projects like the Pohjola Insurance Building. Eliel Saarinen would later
become internationally famous (e.g., for his work in the United States).
Overall Style and Inspiration
Style: Finnish National Romanticism
(a Nordic variant of Art Nouveau/Jugendstil), blended with strong
historicist elements.
The exterior draws heavy inspiration from
medieval Finnish churches and castles, giving it a fortress-like,
monumental presence that symbolizes permanence and national strength.
The interior leans more toward Art Nouveau, with organic forms, rich
materials, and decorative detailing.
The design reflects the
era’s idea that different parts of a museum building should evoke
different historical periods in Finnish architecture and match the
character of the collections (prehistory, medieval, etc.).
Exterior Architecture
The building is constructed primarily of gray
granite (rugged and massive) with steatite (soapstone) decorations,
red-brick accents, and steep, dark tinned or copper roofs.
Key
features:
Central Tower: A tall (about 58 meters), prominent square
tower with a red-brick upper section and a copper roof. It dominates the
skyline and is reminiscent of medieval church towers or castle keeps. It
serves as a landmark along Mannerheimintie.
Massive, asymmetrical
form: The building has a complex, picturesque silhouette with gables,
turrets, small towers, and varied rooflines, creating a romantic, almost
storybook quality.
Heavy portals and entrances: Grand, arched
doorways with stone carvings.
Decorative elements: Animal motifs
(bears, squirrels, frogs, etc.), plant forms, and Finnish
folklore-inspired reliefs by sculptor Emil Wikström (including a notable
bear statue at the entrance).
Material contrast: Rough granite blocks
at the base transition to smoother surfaces higher up, with colorful
roof elements and copper details.
The overall effect is robust,
earthy, and deeply tied to the Finnish landscape and heritage — heavy
and grounded like the granite of the Finnish bedrock.
Interior
Architecture
The interiors showcase Art Nouveau characteristics:
flowing lines, organic ornamentation, high-quality craftsmanship, and
integration of art and architecture.
Highlight: The Entrance Hall
features a magnificent dome/cupola with large Kalevala frescoes by the
famous Finnish artist Akseli Gallén-Kallela (painted in 1928, based on
his earlier work for the 1900 Paris World Fair). These vibrant murals
depict scenes from the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic, and are
viewable for free. The ceiling includes a central skylight that
illuminates the space dramatically.
Other notable interior
elements:
Vaulted ceilings and arched spaces.
Rich use of wood,
stone, and decorative metalwork.
Spacious halls designed to house
historical artifacts, with varying scales and atmospheres corresponding
to different eras of Finnish history.
Attention to detail in
staircases, lighting fixtures, and wall treatments typical of the
National Romantic movement.
The total exhibition area exceeds 3,100
m².
Recent and Ongoing Developments
The museum is undergoing a
major renovation and expansion (the largest in its history). An annex
designed by JKMM Architects (winner of the 2019 “New National”
competition) adds approximately 4,900–5,900 m², mostly underground, with
a striking above-ground pavilion featuring a large, saucer-shaped
floating roof (about 43m diameter) supported by glass walls and a unique
truss structure. The underside features handcrafted ceramic tiles. This
modern addition contrasts with the historic building while aiming for
harmony and improved functionality. The project has faced delays but is
transformative.
Overview and Scale
The museum's cultural history collections total
over half a million objects. They cover Finland's material culture,
society, and interactions with the wider world. Key categories include:
Historical collections: ~138,000 objects (Middle Ages to present)
Ethnological collections: ~90,000 objects (popular culture, 16th century
onward)
Archaeological finds (prehistory)
Numismatic items (coins,
medals, etc.)
Specialized collections (ethnographic, Finno-Ugric,
independence era, maritime, etc.)
The museum also manages other sites
like Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, castles, and house museums, making it a
central institution for Finnish heritage.
Prehistory Collection
(Stone Age to Iron Age)
This is one of the most significant sections,
spanning ~10,000 years of settlement in the region now known as Finland.
The exhibition typically features around 700 key objects selected from
major archaeological finds.
Highlights:
Stone Age tools,
weapons, and ornaments.
Bronze and Iron Age artifacts showing the
transition to metals (swords, knives, daggers).
Items illustrating
daily life, hunting, fishing, trade, and early craftsmanship.
Finds
that address questions of origins: "Who are the Finns and where did they
come from?"
Organic materials (wood, leather, textiles) are rarer
due to preservation conditions, but bog finds and clay/metal items
provide rich insights. The exhibition often incorporates immersive
elements like sounds of ancient forests to bring the era to life.
Historical Collections (Middle Ages to Early 20th Century)
These
~138,000 objects focus on material culture, elite/gentry life, church
artifacts, and societal development under Swedish and Russian rule.
Key areas:
Church and medieval artifacts — Altarpieces, wooden
sculptures of saints, religious objects.
Furniture, costumes, and
textiles — Development of domestic life and fashion.
Decorative arts
— Glass, porcelain, silverware, jewellery.
Weapons and military
items.
Portraits and state-related objects — Reflecting politics,
education, and governance.
Silver Room — Notable collection of silver
objects (some damaged and repaired after a 2006 gas explosion).
This section traces Finland from the 12th-century Christianization and
Swedish Kingdom period through the Russian Empire era up to the early
20th century.
Ethnological (Folk Culture) Collections
Approximately 90,000 objects documenting everyday life, trades, and
traditions of ordinary Finns, especially rural life in the 18th–19th
centuries before industrialization.
Focus areas:
Traditional
costumes (including Sámi collections).
Rugs, rustic furniture,
household items for daily and festive use.
Tools for various trades
and crafts.
Folk culture objects preserved at sites like Seurasaari
Open-Air Museum.
These collections emphasize the lives of common
people and regional variations in Finnish culture.
Numismatic and
Other Specialized Collections
Numismatic collections — Finland's most
extensive collection of coins, medals, orders, and decorations.
Independence Era Collection (established 2017) — Documents 20th–21st
century phenomena, turning points (starting from ~1918), and cultural
diversity in modern Finland.
Ethnographic and Finno-Ugric collections
— Broader cultural connections, including international items.
Contemporary documentation — Ongoing recording of modern Finnish life.
Notable foreign holdings — Historically included a major Mesa Verde
(Ancestral Puebloan) collection from Colorado, donated by explorer
Gustaf Nordenskiöld. Some items were repatriated, with ~600 retained for
exhibition.
Small but high-quality Dutch/Flemish art collection
(altarpieces, paintings, decorative objects).
Exhibitions and
Presentation
Permanent exhibitions are structured chronologically and
thematically:
Prehistory.
Medieval to 19th/early 20th century
(Swedish/Russian periods, folk culture).
Independence era and modern
Finland.
The building itself (designed 1905–1910 by Gesellius,
Lindgren, and Saarinen in National Romantic style) features stunning
Kalevala-inspired frescoes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela in the entrance
hall.
As of 2026, the main Helsinki building is closed for renovation
and expansion (expected reopening around 2027). Many collections can
still be explored digitally via Finna or at affiliated sites.