The upcoming Helsinki Exhibition presents key turning points in the city’s history as well as the lives of Helsinki residents across the centuries. It invites visitors to look beyond the surface of familiar places, historical moments, and human stories, and to discover something meaningful and nostalgic for themselves. Among the items on display are the iconic sign from Cantina West and a water pipe from 1877 unearthed on Mannerheimintie, drawn from Helsinki residents’ own collections, which the City Museum preserves.
Helsinki is full of layers that few people think about while living in or visiting the city. We hope that everyone will find something touching or surprising, discover new perspectives, and perhaps even fall in love with Helsinki.
Everything begins in Malminkartano
The exhibition begins in an apartment building in Malminkartano, leading visitors into an elevator that takes them into the past: to the Stone Age, the city founded by a king, the war years, the welfare state, and ultimately to the diverse Helsinki of today. Different phases of the city’s history are presented through immersive sets, projections, interactive maps, and photography. Along the way, visitors can examine Carl Ludvig Engel’s architectural drawings, visit a library, stop by a trendy 1990s bar, and ride in a 1970s taxi.
This engaging exhibition, designed for the whole family, has been created by a wide range of professionals from different fields. Architecture and spatial design are by Jonathan Maxwell, lighting design by Kimmo Karjunen, audiovisual production by OIOI Smart Space, photo animation by Dominik Trnečka, scale models by Joanna Juhkam, and graphic design by Samppa Ranta. The City Museum’s exhibition team includes Sauli Seppälä, Jere Jäppinen, John Lagerstedt, Katri Lento, Mikko Soikkeli, and Tommi Uutela.
Opening day celebrations from morning to evening
On Saturday 13 June, the Helsinki Exhibition will be open on the second floor until 11 PM. Enjoy old-school yard games, children’s theatre, quizzes and presentations about Helsinki, historical fashion shows, and live music in teh new customer spaces and inner yards. The evening will culminate in a DJ marathon featuring jazz, disco and alternative pop rhythms from the 1950s to the present day.
It is always free entry to the Helsinki City Museum.