- Address: 10133, Pikk 17, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia;
- Website: ajaloomuuseum.ee;
- Phone: +372 696 8690;
- Working hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Walking along Pikk street , one can not help but notice an unusual structure with vaulted long windows and a large pointed roof. This building at number 17 is nothing but the former House of the Great Guild, where today the Estonian Historical Museum is located. The exhibits, which are stored here, will help you to fully experience the spirit of the Estonian nation and recreate whole pictures from its past life. In addition to traditional stands, the museum has many interactive locations, so visiting this place will cause a lot of vivid impressions, not only in adults, but also in children.
History Museum
This year, the Estonian Historical Museum in Tallinn celebrates its 175th anniversary. The foundation date of the institution is 1842, when the Estonian Literary Society (abbreviated to ELO) was formed, consisting of Baltic Germans, who are striving to contribute to an in-depth study of the history of their native land. Members of the society spent 20 years collecting valuable exhibits from various parts of the country, and in 1862 the grand opening of the Provincial Museum of Elo, located in the building of the Canute Guild, took place.
In 1911, the museum moved to a mansion on the street. Kohta 6. Visitors became even more. Interesting lectures and exhibitions were held in the museum, soon it became the center of cultural life in the capital.
In 1952 the museum moved again. This time in the place where it is still today - in the building of the Great Guild in Pikk street.
In 1987, a museum branch was opened in the castle of Maarjamägi, and in 1989 the former brainchild of ELO was renamed the Estonian Historical Museum.
Exhibitions
The main exhibit of the museum deservedly can be called the building itself, in which it is located. A monumental building with a 600-year history is a unique architectural monument. The facade of the House of the Great Guild enchants with its grandeur and stateness. A large porch, a pointed high roof, two door knockers in the form of lion's heads. Such a presentation should be the main national museum, which stores the most sacred, the history of the people.
In the walls of the Estonian Historical Museum there are many temporary exhibitions timed to important national and national dates.
In 2011, there was a major renovation of the museum fund, which resulted in the opening of a large-scale permanent exhibition entitled "Strong in spirit. 11 thousand years of Estonian history ". Passing through the exhibition halls, you will feel all the pain of losses and the joy of victories of the long-suffering Estonian people. The expositions tell about the most significant events of life in Estonia in the context of different epochs: wars, plague, triumphs, conquests and famine.
Of particular interest for tourists are the following locations:
- wine cellar ;
- Exposition "From the mud to the princes" , where a collection of various payment instruments is presented;
- an interactive capsule of time , allowing you to feel yourself in another spatial dimension;
- the street museum composition "Faces of History" , located in the courtyard of the museum (dedicated to outstanding Estonian figures who made a significant contribution to the history);
- educational center "Experimentarium" ;
- Weapons hall (here you can even arrange an improvised war on special electronic stimulators that mimic the sound of different weapons); \
- the exhibition "The Soul of Things" , where the most unusual exhibits from the museum's fund are collected, connected with the life of outstanding people (here, for example, you can see the spoon of Lenin, the accounts of Hetman Mazepa, Mozart's notes, the boot of Peter I);
- exposition "Power of the elite" , telling about the history of the Great Guild.
And still always a lot of tourists crowd around one unusual exhibition - on a long table there are glass vessels with various herbs and plants of the Middle Ages. Next to each capacity is a black bag, in which you can shove your hand and try to touch the exhibits.
Also, the Estonian Historical Museum often pampers culture and art lovers with virtual exhibitions. You can familiarize with them by visiting the corresponding section on the official website of the museum http://www.ajaloomuuseum.ee/ru/veebinaitused-ru.
Information for tourists
- the work time of the Estonian Historical Museum: from May to September every day 10: 00-18: 00, from October to April 10: 00-18: 00 every day except Wednesdays;
- Admission costs: adult - € 6, child / student / pension - € 3, family - € 9, group - € 4;
- entrance to children under 8 years of age is free, as well as for the disabled and persons accompanying them;
- free Estonian History Museum in Tallinn can be visited every last Thursday of the month and May 18 (International Museum Day);
- the branch of the museum - the Maarjamägi castle is closed until 2018 (opens on the day of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia);
- You can use the free app-audio guide (compatible with Android and iOS, available in Estonian, Spanish, Russian, German, English and Finnish);
- headphones are sold at the box office if you have not taken your own (€ 2-3);
- visiting the museum in the off-hours costs € 95;
- group excursions should be booked in advance (for 5 days);
- the cost of excursions (1.5 hours) for groups of up to 25 people: in Russian / English - € 40, in Estonian - € 19.
How to get there?
The Estonian Historical Museum in Tallinn is located near the Town Hall Square . You can also walk to Pikk Street from the Freedom Square on the famous "Tallinn's Long Leg" (Pikk-Yalg Street).
By the way, next door, in the house number 16, is another interesting museum, which is definitely worth a visit - the Marzipan Museum .