Museum | Special exhibitions | Collections | Civil Defence Association
In Civil Defence Museum the visitor gets a vivid glimpse of the civil defence in Helsinki during the Second World War in 1939–1944 and a tour through the history of civil defence from 80 years ago to present day. The war years are described in great detail with authentic paraphernalia; you can even visit a re-built war time bom shelter with sound effects to add to the experience.
Museum is open weekly on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from September to May, except on public holidays or eves of them. Additionally, the museum is open on Helsinki Day, June 12th, annually.
Spring 2026 Museum will be closed due to Easter on the 4th of April.
Inquiries for Group visits by email: museo@hvssy.fi
Group visits are prefer to be organized on working days, also evening time.
The Civil Defence museum is governed by Helsinki City Rescue Department and its guides are voluntary members of Helsinki Civil Defence Association. The guided tours are available in Finnish, Swedish and English. The exhibition consists of authentic technical paraphernalia as well as objects from day to day life during the war years in Helsinki. You may also view video presentations on civil defence and on how people survived on war time environment.
Lectures in the museum
The Civil Defence Association of Helsinki arranges lectures on civil defence and personal safety on demand for visitor groups and school classes:
- Preparations for crisis situations in Helsinki
- sef-preparedness and defence
- Protective measures against radiation or gas poisoning
- History of civil defence and a guided tour in the museum.
Tailored course content, duration and cost is agreed case by case.
Enquiries Mon–Fri:
Civil Defence Association of Helsinki
museo@hvssy.fi or by phone Jukka Lehtiranta 050-4871344
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