40 Fascinating Photos Capture Helsinki’s Street Scenes in the Early 1900s

In the early 1900s, Helsinki’s street scenes reflected a city in transition—balancing tradition and emerging modernity. Horse-drawn carriages clattered over cobbled streets lined with ornate stone buildings in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style. Street vendors sold goods from wooden carts, and women in long skirts and men in bowler hats bustled along the sidewalks.

Trams, first introduced in 1891, were becoming a common sight, weaving through the streets powered by overhead electric lines. Children played near market squares, while fishermen brought fresh catches into the harbor. The air carried the scent of coal smoke and sea breeze. Streetlights—still gas in some areas—glowed dimly at dusk, casting long shadows over Senate Square and the grand Helsinki Cathedral.

Though modest in size, the city buzzed with the energy of a growing capital, still under Russian rule yet increasingly proud of its Finnish identity. These fascinating photos, taken by I. K. Inha (1865–1930), offer a rare glimpse into Helsinki’s street scenes during the summer of 1908.

Corner of Satamakatu, Luotsikatu and  Kruununvuorenkatu on Katajanokka, Helsinki, 1908

Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Boys at Hietalahti harbor, Helsinki, 1908

Crossing of Aleksanterinkatu and Unionkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Crossing of Tehtaankatu and Kapteeninkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Customs warehouse building on Katajanokka, Helsinki, 1908

Esplanadi Park, Helsinki, 1908

Finnish Literature Society's Building on Hallituskatu, Helsinki, 1908

Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Government Palace on Senaatintori, seen from Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Government Palace seen from Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Helsinki Old Church on Antinkatu (now Lönnrotinkatu), Helsinki, 1908

Hotel Seurahuone (now Helsinki City Hall) seen across Kolera-allas on Kauppatori, Helsinki, 1908

Huvilakatu, Helsinki, 1908

Kaisaniemi park, Helsinki, 1908

Kasarmitori, the corner of Fabianinkatu and Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu, Helsinki, 1908

Korkeavuorenkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Library for the blind on Ensi Linja, Helsinki, 1908

Merisatama, Helsinki, 1908

Mikonkatu, Helsinki, 1908.

Mikonkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Norrmén building on Katajanokka, Helsinki, 1908

Nylands Nation's Building on Kasarmikatu, Helsinki, 1908

Restaurant Kappeli in Esplanadinpuisto, Helsinki, 1908

Student Union Building on Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Student Union Building on Itäinen Heikinkatu (now Mannerheimintie), Helsinki, 1908

Suomen Yhdyspankki Building on Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Swedish Theatre, Helsinki, 1908

Tallberg Building on Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, 1908

The steps of St Nicholas' Church (now Helsinki Cathedral), Helsinki, 1908

The surroundings of Eira Hospital, crossing of Laivurinkatu and Tehtaankatu, Helsinki, 1908

Tokankatu (current name Hietalahdenranta) in Hietalahti, Helsinki, 1908

Töölö Sugar Refinery on the west bank of Töölönlahti Bay, Helsinki, 1908

Train running through Linnunlaulu rock cutting, Helsinki, 1908

University Building on Unioninkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Ursin bathing place in Kaivopuisto, Helsinki, 1908

Vendors at Kolera-allas by Kauppatori market square, Helsinki, 1908

View from Kaivopuisto towards Harakka and Uunisaari islands, Helsinki, 1908

Vilhonkatu, Helsinki, 1908

Vuorikatu, Helsinki, 1908