The Artillery Museum of Finland
Encyclopedia
The Artillery Museum of Finland (Suomen Tykistömuseo in Finnish
) is a special military museum dedicated to the history of the artillery
from the 15th century to the present day. It was located in Niinisalo from 1977 to 1997. In 1997 it was relocated to Hämeenlinna
.
A museum dedicated to the field artillery
was discussed in Finland
already in the 1930's but the war years put an end to that discussion. The idea was revived again in the beginning of the 1970's. A possibility of establishing the museum seemed feasible but the location was problematic. Proximity of some large artillery garrison
was considered best for the museum.
In the heart of Satakunta, in Niinisalo, a suitable building was found. An empty school of Saloharju was rented to Tykkimiehet Association by the borough of Kankaanpää. The large artillery garrison of Niinisalo was placed quite near. The museum was founded in the 2nd July 1977 in Niinisalo under the name Artillery Museum (Tykistömuseo in Finnish
). The great public did not, however, quite find its way to the museum, probably because of its remoteness.
A campaign for finding a new location was launched. Linnankasarmi at Hämeenlinna
, with its vacant barracks, begun to feel attractive. The new Artillery Museum was opened to the public on the 12th of May, 1997.
The name of the museum was changed 1.1.2004 to The Artillery Museum of Finland.
. The construction of the barracks started in 1850 and was completed in 1913. The archaeological committee values Linnankasarmi quite highly as a traditional military area and prehistoric site because the medieval town of Hämeenlinna has once been here and its remains are still under the barrack yard. More over, Häme Castle
is right next door and its century's long tradition includes also artillery.
The Artillery Museum of Finland is open all year round
24.8.-31.3 open from 11 to 17 and 1.4-23.8 open from 10 to 18
In the museum there is also a cafeteria run by the volunteer women who work with conscripts.
to the Finnish Civil War
and to the Jaeger movement. A muzzleloader
called Helvig, a cannon dating back to the War of Finland 1808-1809 is one of the guns worth mentioning. On the centre passage of each floor there are projectiles from different periods and different guns.
, the largest Finnish soldier ever at 226 centimeters some 7 foot and 5 inches tall.
The gun collection of the museum is unique, the most comprehensive in the Scandinavia. As far as it is known there is no other museum outside Russia with a collection on Russian and Soviet artillery equipment as exhaustive as this. The amount of the pieces in the museum is now 90 different cannons plus heavy grenade launchers and rocket launchers. In the gun hall are located the rarest guns in the museum.
The majority of guns in the museum are located at the gun yard. On the honorary place in the gun yard, with the flag of the Artillery Museum as a colour guard, there is the funeral gun of the Artillery General, Mannerheim Cross Knight Vilho Nenonen, a Finnish 105 H 37 light howitzer.
“The miracle of Ihantala”, based on the defensive victory in the summer 1944 on the Karelian Isthmus
“Victory in wilderness”, which is about the successful offensive in the wilderness of Ilomantsi in the summer 1944
“The last battle in Ladoga Karelia”, the third film is also of the battles in the summer 1944, this time in Ladoga Karelia.
The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940”, the first defensive victory
The road to continuaton war in 1940-1941, how Finland enden up allying itself with Germany against Russia.
The museum has also an interactive system “The artillery system of Finland in different times” on computers, which illustrates us the development of artillery from the 13th Century to the present times.
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
) is a special military museum dedicated to the history of the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
from the 15th century to the present day. It was located in Niinisalo from 1977 to 1997. In 1997 it was relocated to Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
.
History
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
was discussed in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
already in the 1930's but the war years put an end to that discussion. The idea was revived again in the beginning of the 1970's. A possibility of establishing the museum seemed feasible but the location was problematic. Proximity of some large artillery garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
was considered best for the museum.
In the heart of Satakunta, in Niinisalo, a suitable building was found. An empty school of Saloharju was rented to Tykkimiehet Association by the borough of Kankaanpää. The large artillery garrison of Niinisalo was placed quite near. The museum was founded in the 2nd July 1977 in Niinisalo under the name Artillery Museum (Tykistömuseo in Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
). The great public did not, however, quite find its way to the museum, probably because of its remoteness.
A campaign for finding a new location was launched. Linnankasarmi at Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
, with its vacant barracks, begun to feel attractive. The new Artillery Museum was opened to the public on the 12th of May, 1997.
The name of the museum was changed 1.1.2004 to The Artillery Museum of Finland.
Location and opening hours
The Artillery Museum of Finland is located at Hämeenlinna in the Linnakasarmi area. The buildings of Linnankasarmi date back to the Russian regime, to the Autonomy 1809–1917Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
. The construction of the barracks started in 1850 and was completed in 1913. The archaeological committee values Linnankasarmi quite highly as a traditional military area and prehistoric site because the medieval town of Hämeenlinna has once been here and its remains are still under the barrack yard. More over, Häme Castle
Häme castle
Häme Castle is a medieval castle in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The castle is located on the coast of lake Vanajavesi in the city center. The castle was originally located on an island....
is right next door and its century's long tradition includes also artillery.
The Artillery Museum of Finland is open all year round
24.8.-31.3 open from 11 to 17 and 1.4-23.8 open from 10 to 18
In the museum there is also a cafeteria run by the volunteer women who work with conscripts.
Permanent exhibition
The permanent exhition displays in three floors the history of artillery in Finland and the military history on the nation.First floor
On the ground floor of the main building the birth of our artillery centuries ago is on display. The story proceeds from the War of Finland 1808-1809 through the period of AutonomyAutonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
to the Finnish Civil War
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
and to the Jaeger movement. A muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun . This is distinct from the more popular modern designs of breech-loading firearms...
called Helvig, a cannon dating back to the War of Finland 1808-1809 is one of the guns worth mentioning. On the centre passage of each floor there are projectiles from different periods and different guns.
Second floor
The second floor brings the visitor to the times of the Winter and Continuation Wars. The firing methods of the field artillery and of the subjects connected, admirably demonstrate the high technical know-how of the Finnish artillery. The study of the world-famous Artillery General Vilho Nenonen is also in this floor. The proto type of the noted Nenon – camera is on display in this room. The floor of the artillery veterans ends with the present time and with its objects. Special branches, such as artillery intelligence, communications and survey activities are placed on this floor. On display is also the uniform of Väinö MyllyrinneVäinö Myllyrinne
Väinö Myllyrinne, was an acromegalic giant who was at one time the world's tallest person...
, the largest Finnish soldier ever at 226 centimeters some 7 foot and 5 inches tall.
Third floor
The third floor displays the life of the Marshal of Finland, Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim and for example the honorary gun, a Finnish 105 H 37 light howitzer on which gun carriage Mannerheim was escorted to the eternal rest in the winter 1951 is on display. Also is shown the life in the Finnish army after the second world war and the technological development of artillery is also given special consideration.Gun hall
Gun yard
Auditorium
In the auditoriums are shown the multimedia video films:“The miracle of Ihantala”, based on the defensive victory in the summer 1944 on the Karelian Isthmus
“Victory in wilderness”, which is about the successful offensive in the wilderness of Ilomantsi in the summer 1944
“The last battle in Ladoga Karelia”, the third film is also of the battles in the summer 1944, this time in Ladoga Karelia.
The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940”, the first defensive victory
The road to continuaton war in 1940-1941, how Finland enden up allying itself with Germany against Russia.
The museum has also an interactive system “The artillery system of Finland in different times” on computers, which illustrates us the development of artillery from the 13th Century to the present times.
See also
- Military Museum of FinlandMilitary Museum of FinlandThe Military Museum of Finland is the central museum of the Finnish Defence Forces and the national special museum of military history. It is located in Helsinki and it is part of the Finnish National Defence University. Military Museums exhibitions in Kruununhaka and Suomenlinna had around 50 000...
- Parola Tank MuseumParola Tank MuseumParola Tank Museum, officially Armoured Vehicle Museum is a military museum located in Parola, near Hämeenlinna, in Finland. It displays various tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-tank guns used by the Finnish Defence Forces throughout its history. A rare exhibit is an armoured train used in...
Other Artillery museums
- Firepower: The Royal Artillery Museum
- Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal CorpsMilitary Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal CorpsThe Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps , also known simply as the Artillery Museum, is a state-owned military museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia...