Windmill from Oripää, Helsinki

The Oripää Windmill in Seurasaari is lovingly referred to as “mamsell”. The mill owes its nickname to the outside appearance, resembling a woman's skirt. This form is typical of the western areas of Finland. Mamsell mills are the most complex and efficient in terms of technology.

The Oripää mill has been modeled on the Samppalinna windmill in Turku. It has six blades and a rotating tower part that can be moved mechanically from the inside with a crank.

The mill was built – all except for the metal and stone parts – by Antti Koski, a farmer from Makkarkoski, in 1894. The two pairs of millstones from sandstone were made by another farmer from Säkylä, named Pruun.

The mill was still in use in the 1940s until a strong storm wind broke its wings in 1948. Eventually, it was donated and bought to the Seurasaari Museum by Dr. Toini-Inkeri Kaukonen, in 1970. To this day, the frame and mechanical parts of the windmill remain in their original form and are in a very good condition.