30 Fascinating Vintage Photos Capture Street Scenes of Helsinki, Finland in the 1900s

For the town founded by Gustavus Vasa, the war was a major turning point. Helsinki was proclaimed the Finnish capital in 1812 and Finland's only university, which had been founded in Turku in 1640, was transferred to Helsinki in 1828.

Devastated by fire, the town was completely rebuilt in a style worthy of a capital. Placed in charge of the rebuilding project were Johan Albrecht Ehrenström, a native of Helsinki, and the German-born architect Carl Ludwig Engel, who together gave the city its monumental Empire-style centre. The most conspicuous building in the Empire centre is the Cathedral, completed in 1852.

Helsinki soon became an administrative, university and garrison town, and the biggest industrial city in the land. By the beginning of the 20th century it had a population of over 100,000.

The Market Square, Helsinki

Russian soldiers on Helsinki Senate Square

Kaivopuisto (Brunnsparken)

Eira/Ullanlinna (Ulrikasborg), Helsinki

Ullanlinna (Ulrikasborg), Helsinki

Kleinehs Hotel, Pohjoisesplanadi 9, Helsinki

The statue "Havis Amanda" by Ville Wallgren at Helsinki Market Square

Central railway station square and the Finnish National Theater in Helsinki

The steam ship "Nyländska Skärgården" outside the South harbor in Helsinki

Central Railway Station in Helsinki

The steam ship "Östra Skärgården" outside the Market Square in Helsinki

Erottaja (Skillnaden), Helsinki. The Swedish Theater in the front.

View over Punavuori (Rödbergen) and Ullanlinna (Ulrikasborg), Helsinki

Punavuori (Rödbergen), Helsinki. St. John's Church in the background.

May Day celebrations in Helsinki

Steam ship "Arcturus" departure from the South Harbor in Helsinki

South Harbour, Helsinki

The Bank of Finland and the National Archives, Helsinki

Girl selling lottery tickets, Esplanadi Park, Helsinki

Roadwork, Helsinki

On the corner of Lapinlahdenkatu and Albertinkatu, Helsinki

Bulevardi, Helsinki

Locomotive on the Market Square, Helsinki

Streetview, Helsinki

Mikonkatu, Helsinki

Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki

The Old Student house, Vanha ylioppilastalo, Helsinki

Northern Esplanadi, Helsinki

Huvilakatu (Villagatan), Helsinki

Simonkatu, Helsinki

(via The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland)