The Main Exhibition

The City Museum’s new main exhibition is a journey of insights and experiences into the history of Helsinki. It takes the visitor on a colourful and surprising journey through life on the shores of a northern sea, between East and West, highlighting the major developments and phenomena that have shaped Helsinki to become what it is today. The journey starts at Malminkartano and continues through changing landscapes and meetings with a variety of people from the Stone Age onwards, sailors and mademoiselles, children and characters from the seamier side of life. Finally, the visitor will ride in a taxi from the 1970s to the present.

The opening of the main exhibition will take place on Friday 12 June 2026 – on Helsinki Day, a day of celebration for the whole city.