Upcoming: Otherland – Years 1100–1900

How did the region between Scandinavia and Russia become Finland? The Otherland exhibition depicts an era when a country called Finland did not yet exist. It tells the story of our diverse past through the lives of ordinary people.

The life and conflicts of the era are explored through phenomena that were significant at the time. What was life like in smoke cabins or manor halls, when people’s lives were defined by was defined by faith, curiosity, words and scourges?

Through personal items, Otherland tells human stories of fates and dreams. Historical events are shown through the people who experienced them, such as the blouse of a maid who went from Hailuoto to the royal court of King Gustav III, or the portrait of a major wounded by grenade shrapnel, for example.

The Story of Finland

The National Museum tells the story of Finland through three independent exhibitions. The exhibitions take us from the Stone Age to the present day and invite us to think about where we are heading. Carefully selected classics from the collections and stories of surprising human fates paint an image of Finland’s past that was multi-voiced and had extensive networks. Based on Finland’s largest cultural history collection, the Story of Finland forms the foundation and core of the National Museum.

The exhibitions, shown at the National Museum between 2017–2023, have now been updated. The revision of the exhibitions has been based on the changed interpretation of history while bringing some of the most interesting finds of recent years on display.