# Timeline of Helsinki

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Helsinki, Finland.

## Prior to 19th century

* 1550 - Trading town established by Gustav I of Sweden.
* 1569 - City privileges granted.
* 1570 - Fire.
* 1616 - "Diet of Finland held in Helsinki."
* 1640 - Helsinki relocated across Kluuvinlahti [fi] bay to Vironniemi"
* 1654 - Fire.
* 1695 - Famine begins.
* 1710 - Plague.
* 1713 - Helsinki taken by Russian forces.
* 1727 - Ulrika Eleonora Church [fi] built.
* 1742 - Helsinki occupied by Russians again.
* 1743 - Herring fair begins.
* 1748 - Sveaborg fortress construction begins.
* 1757 - Sederholm house [fi] built.

## 19th century

* 1808
** Suomenlinna fortress surrenders to Russia.
** Fire.
* 1810 - Population: 4,065.
* 1812
** Helsinki becomes capital of Grand Duchy of Finland.
** Esplanadi park opens.
* 1815 - Helsinki Orthodox Cemetery [fi] established.
* 1819 - Sinebrychoff Brewery founded.
* 1822 - Government Palace built.
* 1826 - Helsinki Old Church built.
* 1827 - Engels Teater, the first theatre, is built.
* 1828 - The Royal Academy of Turku relocates to Helsinki.
* 1829 - Hietaniemi cemetery and University of Helsinki Botanical Garden established.
* 1838 - Kaivohuone built.
* 1844 - The state girls' school Svenska fruntimmersskolan i Helsingfors is opened.
* 1846 - Finnish Art Society and symphony orchestra founded.
* 1847 - Suometar newspaper begins publication.
* 1848 - Drawing school established.
* 1849 - Helsinki University of Technology founded.
* 1852
** St Nicholas' Church built.
** "Students Library" established.
* 1860
** Swedish Theatre built.
** Population: 22,228.
* 1862 - First Helsinki railway station opens with service to Hämeenlinna.
* 1864 - Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper begins publication.
* 1868 - Uspenski Cathedral built.
* 1870 - St. Petersburg-Helsinki railway built.
* 1871 - University of Arts and Design founded.
* 1872 - Helsinki typesetter strike of 1872 [fi].
* 1873 - First Finnish opera, Suomalainen Ooppera, is inaugurated.
* 1875 - City Council of Helsinki established.
* 1879 - Alexander Theatre built.
* 1881 - Rikhardinkatu Library opens.
* 1882
** Helsinki Music Institute and Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra established.
** Population: 45,919.
* 1884 - Electric power plant begins operating.
* 1886 - Kaivopuisto park established.
* 1887 - Ateneum and Hotel Kämp built.
* 1888 - Kauppahalli built.
* 1889
** Zoo opens.
** Päivälehti and Helsingin Sanomat newspapers begin publication.
* 1890 - Population: 61,530.
* 1891
** Horse-drawn tram begins operating.
** Fazer in business.
* 1893
** Helsinki harbour rail begins operating.
** Winter garden opens.
* 1894 - Statue of Alexander II of Russia erected in Senate Square.
* 1895 - Demari newspaper begins publication.
* 1896 - Population: 77,484.
* 1898 - Kauppalehti newspaper in publication.
* 1900 - Electric tram begins operating.

## 20th century
### 1900s-1940s

* 1902 - Finnish National Theatre building constructed.
* 1904
** Governor-General Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov assassinated by Eugen Schauman.
** Population: 111,654.
* 1906
** 26 February: 1906 Helsinki bank robbery.
** Helsinki Synagogue built.
* 1908 - Helsinki Workers' House built.
* 1909 - Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and Olympia cinema [fi] established.
* 1911
** Helsinki School of Economics founded.
** Domestic Opera founded.
** Helsinki City Museum opens.
* 1912 - Helsinki Stock Exchange founded.
* 1917
** May: 1917 Helsinki church riot [fi] occurs.
** Helsinki Workers' Council formed.
* 1916 - National Museum of Finland opens.
* 1918
** Civil war.
** British submarine flotilla in harbor.
* 1919
** 16 May: Victory day.
** Helsinki Central railway station, designed by Eliel Saarinen, opens.
** Population: 187,544.
* 1922 - Arthur Castrén becomes mayor.
* 1924 - Natural History Museum of Helsinki established.
* 1926
** Yleisradio begins broadcasting.
** Citizens' College Helsinki founded.
* 1928 - Merano cinema [fi] opens.
* 1930 - Population: 205,833.
* 1931
** Antti Tulenheimo becomes mayor.
** Parliament House built.
** Hotel Torni opens.
* 1932
** Eläintarhan ajot (motor race) begins.
** Ilta-Sanomat newspaper begins publication.
* 1936 - Lasipalatsi built.
* 1937 - Savoy hotel founded.
* 1938
** May: Second International Aeronautic Exhibition held.
** Helsinki-Malmi Airport and Stadium open.
** Klaus Kurki hotel established.
** Tennispalatsi built.
* 1939 - Bombing by Soviets.
* 1944
** Bombing by Soviets.
** Eero Rydman becomes mayor.
* 1946 - Haaga, Huopalahti, Kulosaari, and Oulunkylä become part of city.
* 1947 - Helsinki Swimming Stadium built.

### 1950s-1990s

* 1950
** Linnanmäki amusement park opens.
** Population: 368,519.
* 1951 - Marimekko founded.
* 1952
** Helsinki Airport opens.
** 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki.
* 1956 - Lauri Aho [fi] becomes mayor.
* 1957 - Kansan Uutiset newspaper begins publication.
* 1960
** Mosque established.
** Lake Bodom murders occur.
* 1962
** City hosts World Festival of Youth and Students.
** Enzo-Gutzeit building constructed.
* 1964 - Orion (cinema) [fi] active.
* 1965
** International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition begins.
** Helsinki City Theatre established.
* 1966 - Helsinki Ice Hall opens.
* 1967 - Sibelius Monument unveiled.
* 1968
** Teuvo Aura becomes mayor.
** Helsinki Festival begins.
* 1969 - Temppeliaukio Church consecrated.
* 1970 - Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council created.
* 1971 - Finlandia Hall built.
* 1973 - Population: 510,614 city; 821,505 urban agglomeration.
* 1975
** Helsinki Accords.
** Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre built.
* 1979
** Raimo Ilaskivi becomes mayor.
** Lepakkoluola formed.
** Helsinki Theatre Academy founded.
* 1980
** Iltalehti newspaper begins publication.
** Ring I highway constructed.
** Population: 483,675.
* 1982
** Helsinki Metro begins operating.
** Sibelius Academy active.
* 1984 - Itäkeskus shopping mall built.
* 1986 - Mosque founded.
* 1989 - Night of the Arts begins.
* 1990 - Finnish National Gallery established.
* 1991
** Linux software created by university student.
** Kari Rahkamo becomes mayor.
* 1993
** Helsinki Opera House opens.
** National Defence College (Finland) established.
* 1995
** Spårakoff pub tram begins operating.
** Population: 515,765.
* 1996
** Eva-Riitta Siitonen becomes mayor.
** Helsinki Motor Show begins.
* 1997
** Taloussanomat newspaper begins publication.
** Hartwall Areena opens.
* 1998 - Kiasma museum inaugurated.
* 1999 - Finnkino Tennispalatsi (cinema) opens.

## 21st century

* 2002 - 11 October: Myyrmanni bombing occurs in nearby Vantaa.
* 2005 - Jussi Pajunen becomes mayor.
* 2007
** Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences established.
** Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences formed.
** Eurovision Song Contest 2007 held.
* 2009
** Helsinki Regional Transport Authority formed.
** Kumpula Garden opens.
** Prisma Itäkeskus shopping centre built.
* 2010 - Aalto University formed.
* 2011
** Restaurant Day begins.
** Sipoonkorpi National Park established.
** Helsinki Music Centre built.
** Helsinki Region Infoshare launched.
* 2012
** Population: 596,233.
** City designated World Design Capital.
* 2017
** Jan Vapaavuori becomes mayor.