Mikkeli has many fascinating sites that relate the history of war. There is plenty to see and do, even if you are not a dedicated enthusiast.
The Muisti Centre of War and Peace & Headquarters Museum
The Headquarters Museum and Muisti Centre of War and Peace are located in an old school building in the centre of Mikkeli.
The Muisti Centre of War and Peace is a science centre in Mikkeli. Its exhibitions relate Finnish experiences of war with the aid of modern technology – what if you had been there? What were the causes and consequences of the war, and the survival stories that came out of it?
Muisti tells us about war in order to promote peace. Together with the Headquarters Museum, Muisti provides a unique perspective on Finnish experiences of war and peacebuilding. Both Muisti and the Headquarters Museum are located in the same old school building that housed the Headquarters of the Finnish Defence Forces during the Second World War, in 1939−1945. The Headquarters Museum tells the story of war leaders and leadership in an authentic setting.
The Infantry Museum is located in two old wooden buildings in the Old Garrison.
The Infantry Museum is a specialised military history museum that showcases the history of the Finnish Defence Forces' main branch, the infantry, from the time of Swedish rule to the present day. A visit to the Infantry Museum is an interactive experience in which true stories from the past vividly meet the present. The museum is located in Mikkeli's Old Garrison, one of the best-preserved wooden garrisons in Finland.
Mannerheim's saloon car stands at Mikkeli railway station
Mannerheim's saloon car stands at Mikkeli railway station. Mannerheim made over a hundred journeys in this saloon car, covering a total of more than 78,000 km. Mannerheim's saloon car is maintained by Mikkeli City Museums. It is traditionally open to the public only once a year, on 4 June, which is both Mannerheim's birthday and the Finnish Defence Forces' Flag Day.
During the Continuation War, the Headquarters' Lokki Communication Centre operated out of caves that had been excavated beneath Naisvuori hill. The centre was later turned into a museum, but is currently closed due to rock erosion. Repairs are being planned, and Lokki will be reopened to the public sometime in the next few years.
