Fire! Fire!

The exhibition will use various ways to describe the long shared history between man and fire. The Gate of Fire will lead the visitor to the exhibition through a tunnel filled with images and sound, revealing the story of fire from lightning bolts to campfires through animations.

The timeline on the utilisation of fire will illuminate how man gradually became the master of fire. The introduction of matches during the 1800s made everyday lives easier – the essential fire was readily available anywhere, anytime. However, how were things before? Do you think you start a fire with a fire drill, a fire saw or a bow drill? Will you be able to create a flame or will all your efforts go up in smoke? Exhibition visitors will get to personally try out making fire with primitive utensils.

The blacksmith’s workshop from the mid-1700s will allow you to see and hear how the smith is forging a knife for his wife. The workshop will invite visitors to learn the blacksmith’s profession and the use of special tools. Take your time to let the atmosphere sink in and to hear the smith’s story. Can you handle the smith’s tongs?

Powerful fire

The impact of the Great Fire of Turku in 1827 will be described through the eyes of individual city residents and from a wider perspective as a catastrophe that transformed the City of Turku.

The most devastating urban fire in the history of the Nordic countries burnt down almost all of Turku in September 1827. During the course of its history, the City of Turku was up in flames over 30 times, but this Great Fire that started from Aninkaistenmäki was destructive and fierce like no other fire.

Now, the Turku on Fire! theatrical performance will allow you to witness the progress of the fire first-hand! Spanning nearly 100 square metres, a miniature model representing Turku in the 1800s will catch fire and go up in smoke and fire as the firestorm rages through the doomed city. A background animation will illustrate the residents’ fears but also their resourcefulness in the middle of the blazing fire.

Visitors will be able to personally walk through the Great Fire of Turku: As you walk down Linnankatu Street towards Turku Cathedral Bridge, you can imagine yourself walking along the almost forgotten Tiirikkalankatu street. The Great Fire of Turku destroyed the street completely, and the new passageway was renamed following extensive reconstruction. Now, a section of the lost street has been recreated at Logomo!

The street section has been restored based on the original drawings to resemble its historical counterpart as closely as possible, allowing you to step back in time to the year 1827. See for yourself what historical Turku looked like before and after the epic fire!

The smouldering street is still warm with the heat of the fire. A heat-sensitive camera will allow visitors to find the hot spots waiting to go up in flames.

When do urban fires mean the beginning of something new or the end of it all? Pompeii was destroyed for good but Gdańsk was re-built over and over again. The fire of London in 1666 was believed to be a secret catholic plot while the Chicago fire was preceded with an extraordinarily hot and dry summer. The possibilities of urban construction will be available for all visitors: How would you reconstruct Turku?

Toward fire

Untamed fire is dangerous. Activity checkpoints will practically describe the evolution of fire fighting and rescue. The exhibition will allow visitors to try out a hundred year old fire pump or sit in a fire engine from the 1950s. An old fire master will recall wild stories and young visitors will be able to dress up as fire fighters! If you are fast enough to open a life net, you will save the life of a person jumping off a burning building!  The fire fighters’ work will also be illustrated through teaching and educational films from different ages and countries.

Multicoloured flames

Step into the The Blaze and see yourself surrounded by flames! Witch fires, bonfire traditions, flames of Hell and other burning topics are presented through vibrant examples.

Sun gods, fire gods, thunder gods and blacksmiths, the gods’ heirs, star in many stories and myths. The vault of heaven has been the source of many beliefs on fire and fiery creatures. Would you believe that the northern lights are born when a fox sweeps the snow with its fiery red tail? And, did you know that the aurora borealis dance when you whistle? The exhibition presents mythical stories on fire and their heroes. Songs with fire themes reveal the symbolic nature of fire.