For many of us, the National Museum of Finland is a familiar place to visit, a place where we got our first taste of history and culture on a field trip. The National Museum is like an open book, offering us stories of Finland's history over thousands of years. Today we walk together along this path of stories, and let history tell its story.
When we enter the door of the National Museum, our feet walk on the stones of the past. We encounter stories of Finns from as far back as the Stone Age, and we can feel their energy on our skin. Objects such as ceramic dishes and the famous Ääninen man speak to us. Through them we sense what it was like to be human long ago - how we lived, loved, fought and built society.
As we wander the corridors of the Middle Ages and the modern age, we see the transformation of an era in a tangible way. In the Middle Ages, the church and religion were at the centre, and this is reflected in the objects in the museum - such as vestments and canticles. At the dawn of a new age, we come face to face with new technology, science and art, which changed the course of humanity forever.
When we enter the hall of modern times, we can almost hear the noise of historical events. Here, we encounter the stages of Finland's independence and the war years, we see Finland's industrialisation and population growth, but also the symbolism of Finnishness, such as the Kalevala and the Finnish flag. Each object tells its own story, as part of a larger whole.
The National Museum of Finland is much more than a building and a collection of artefacts; it is a living memory, a treasure trove of stories and a bridge to the past. It gives us the opportunity to travel through Finland's history, to better understand the roots of our Finnish people and how they shape our identity.
To sum up, the National Museum of Finland is a place worth visiting for anyone interested in culture and history. When we enter the museum, we also become part of Finland's story, and through this we gain a better understanding of where we have come from and what we are now. The National Museum is like a time machine that takes us on a journey through Finland's history.