Tamminiemi and the Urho Kekkonen Museum
The Villa Tamminiemi and the Urho Kekkonen Museum formerly the Finnish Presidents' residence
Right outside the Seurasaari Open Air Museum was the Villa Tamminiemi and the Urho Kekkonen Museum. It used to be the residence of former Finnish Presidents. It underwent an extensive renovation and reopened as a museum in 2012. Given that the admission to this museum was covered by our 3 Day Helsinki Card, we went inside to take a look. It really wasn't our plan to see it nor were we aware it even existed. However, since we were already there, we told ourselves, "Why Not?"
If one were to visit the villa/museum without knowing anything about it whatsoever, then one would think that it was just like any contemporary house. That's what I thought. What set it apart from the rest was the fact that just as Buckingham Palace is to the Kings and Queen of England, the White House is to the US President, so is the Villa Tamminiemi to the Finnish Presidents.
Apparently, the Finnish Presidents of today live somewhere else now. Anyway, the place for me was not ostentatious at all. In fact, I did not find it to be so huge. There are houses in posh Pacific Heights in San Francisco where I live that are twice or even three times as big and as grand.
The lobby of the Finnish President's Residence now the Urho Kekkonen Museum. All visitors were required to wrap their shoes with some blue cloth so as not to dirty the premises. It was quite funny when we first arrived because the young Finnish gentleman who let us in first took note of our Helsinki Card numbers, told us we could enter for free, and then wanted to charge us 6 euros each for admission. He knew he didn't make any sense and laughed. So did we.
While there were guided tours in different languages available, there was none in English at the time of our visit. Hence we did the tour ourselves. We were given a packet written in English and which I took home with us explaining the important features of the villa or any of the exhibits.
Inside the President's Residence now the Urho Kekkonen Museum
This was the very first room we saw. It was right up on the second floor where most of the rooms open to the public where located.
The President's work desk inside his office. This had got to be the most important room in all of the museum.
The dining table inside the President's Residence (The Urho Kekkonen Museum)
Perhaps, this may have even been used as conference table as well.
We even saw this bedroom inside the President's Residence (The Urho Kekkonen Museum. It looked just like any ordinary bedroom, I thought. I must say, Scandinavians and Finnish are truly simple and minimalist. They are a stark contrast to many of us here in the US who have got to have the biggest, the fanciest, and most elaborate rooms possible to show the world our rank and status.
Another bedroom inside the Urho Kekkonen Museum (President's Residence)
The bathroom on the second floor used by the President's family
The living room
The corner for watching TV opposite the living room
The Kitchen as we saw it. The yellow colored counters and cabinets screamed 70s.
Here's another view of the 70s style kitchen inside the President's Residence nor the Urho Kekkonen Museum
The sign for the Villa Tamminiemi and The Urho Kekkonen Museum (President's Residence)