Natural History Museum, Helsinki

The building that houses the Natural History Museum of Helsinki was built in 1913 and has a very interesting history in its own right. Originally built to house a Russian school for boys, after Finland gained her independence, the building was then transformed into army headquarters and a cadet school. The University of Helsinki purchased the building in the late 1920s, and it became a repository for its zoological collections.

Over the years several changes were made to the building, walls added, and decorative features boarded up. In 2005 the museum was closed and a major refurbishing of the building occurred. The result is a beautifully restored building that has both modern conveniences as well as the original grandeur such as the oak parquet floor. The building is handicapped accessible.

The museum is home to four permanent exhibits that include the Story of Bones, The History of Life, Finnish and World Nature. The exhibits are well worth seeing and are very educational. Allow at least half a day here to see all the exhibits without being rushed.

Why You Should Visit:
Fascinating museum experience for any nature-lovers of all ages – or anyone interested in Finnish fauna.
The rooms are filled with beautifully put together displays, whether they're animal skeletons or taxidermy.

Tip:
From the balcony on the uppermost floor, you get a nice view of the dinosaur exhibition one floor down.
The free WiFi allows access to an audio guide from your device so consider bringing some earphones.