When we enter the National Museum of Finland, we don't just enter the building. We travel back in time, through thousands of years, to discover what Finland and its culture have been. Natural stones enrich the details of the museum building and dioramas of stuffed animals bring nature close, offering welcome moments of respite between the exhibits of people and objects.
The National Museum of Finland, housed in a 1910s Art Nouveau building, is a place where you can feel the pulse of Finnish history. It hides stories that stretch from the distant past to the present day.
One of these stories is the sculpture Mother Lemminkäinen, one of the most impressive works in the stately central hall. Based on a poem by Eino Leino and created by Matti Haupt, the sculpture is a masterpiece that will leave no one cold. It took years to sculpt, and the end result is impressive. Lemminkäinen's mother is a familiar figure from Finnish folklore, whose stubborn love brought her son back to life. It is a symbol of human love, determination and sacrifice.
At the National Museum you can also dive into the depths of prehistory. For example, there is an axe on display that is thought to date back to around 5000 BC. Rarely can you feel such a direct connection with the past as when you hold an object created thousands of years ago.
The National Museum is like a time machine, transporting visitors to the Stone Age and medieval Finland, through the Viking Age to the peaceful times of the late 19th century. With each exhibition, new layers of Finnish history, culture and identity are revealed.
A visit to the museum opens your eyes to the long and varied journey Finland has had - its eras of love, its wars and its peace. We understand better where we have come from and can only imagine where we are going. The National Museum of Finland is a place that every Finn and friend of Finland should experience, as its exhibitions open a window to the past that helps us understand the present and the future.
Each visit to the National Museum is like a dive into the depths, always offering a new perspective on Finland's diverse history. It is a place that ignites the imagination and where you can learn fascinating things about Finnish culture and history.