Finland

Helsinki

Step into the past and experience the charm of 1870s Helsinki through the captivating museum model of the city.

Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Helsinki as you explore the meticulously crafted museum model, transporting you back to the bustling city in the late 19th century.

Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav I Vasa of Sweden, with the intention of competing with Reval (now Tallinn, Estonia), located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Originally situated at the mouth of the Vantaa River, about 5 km north of its current location, the city was relocated in 1640 to its present site for better sea access. In 1710, a plague devastated the town, and it was subsequently burned to the ground in 1713.


Helsinki faced destruction once more when Russia invaded Finland in 1808, resulting in the town being burned down again.

The Helsinki City Museum provided information of their scale model, that depicts Helsinki around 1870. 

The model was made in 1917-1931. In the model is depicted The Senate Square area which is still relatively unchanged but the most other parts look very differently today because of the changes of city planning and damages during the World War II. Model is the most popular object in Helsinki City Museum according to a survey of museum visitors in 2015.

Additional information

Wikipedia

City of Helsinki

Technical information

Creator: Bruno Aspelinin, Suanto Jussi, Lehmussaari Yrjö
Year of manufacture: 1917-1931
Material: Cardboard, carton, paper-pulp
Dimensions: 599 x 488 cm

SOURCES:

Tomáš Linhart's request to Minna Sarantola-Weiss (minna.sarantola-weiss@hel.fi), Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki, 08.07.2022

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Helsinki". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/place/Helsinki. Accessed 22 March 2023.

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