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 bay to Vironniemi"
 * 1654 - Fire.
 * 1695 - Famine begins.
 * 1710 - Plague.
 * 1713 - Helsinki taken by Russian forces.
 * 1727 - built.
 * 1742 - Helsinki occupied by Russians again.
 * 1743 - Herring fair begins.
 * 1748 - Sveaborg fortress construction begins.
 * 1757 - 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 - 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 -.
 * 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.

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 established.
 * 1911
 * Helsinki School of Economics founded.
 * Domestic Opera founded.
 * Helsinki City Museum opens.
 * 1912 - Helsinki Stock Exchange founded.
 * 1917
 * May: 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 - 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 - 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 - 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.