The dioramas

Main exhibition

Experience Finland’s nature

The museum’s 13 dioramas, or natural landscapes, showcase Finnish nature from the barren islands of the outer archipelago to the magnificent fells of Lapland.

Have you ever stared at a bear eye to eye? Or heard the shrill call of a grey partridge? In our main exhibition, which bears witness to the long history of our dioramas, you can experience the foliage of the Turku woodland as well as the bogs of North Karelia and the endless horizons in the outer archipelago.

Experience the museum with all senses

The Biological Museum’s main exhibition consists of 13 dioramas, or natural landscapes, which show the diversity of Finnish nature. One visit to the museum takes you on a journey around the country, and through the changing seasons. Of the 250 or so species of birds that nest in Finland, 143 species are on display. There are 30 species of mammals, and there are also invasive alien species. For more information about the landscapes and species, you can use the touch screens, which contain information in English, Finnish, and Swedish. You can also explore the exhibition through audio guides and sensory points.

What is a diorama?

A diorama is made up of stuffed animals, vegetation and a background painting that creates a three-dimensional sense of the landscape. The oldest dioramas in the exhibition have remained almost in their original state since the museum opened in 1907. The original exhibits were created by Gustaf Kolthoff (1845-1913), a renowned Swedish taxidermist and naturalist who had created a similar set for the Stockholm Biological Museum a decade earlier. Kolthoff was assisted by his son Kjell Kolthoff (1871-1947), who also painted the dioramas’ backgrounds in oils. Over the decades, some of the original dioramas at the Biological Museum have been dismantled and replaced by new ones by local artists. Even today, however, visitors can still see the Kolthoffs’ impressive handiwork at the Biological Museum.