The Stone of The Empress, Historic obelisk in Kauppatori, Finland
The Stone of the Empress is a red granite obelisk standing at the center of Helsinki Market Square, crowned with a bronze globe and two-headed eagle. The monument rises prominently above the surrounding marketplace, serving as a focal point for the square's daily activity.
Built in 1835, the monument was designed by Finnish architect Carl Ludvig Engel to honor Empress Alexandra's visit to Helsinki with Tsar Nicholas I in 1833. It marks a period when Finland was under Russian imperial rule and authority.
The inscriptions in Finnish and Latin tell of a time when different languages coexisted in Helsinki under Russian rule. The monument itself became a symbol of the city's complex multicultural identity during this historical period.
The monument sits in the center of the Market Square and can be accessed easily at any time from any side of the plaza. As a free public memorial, it requires no admission and remains accessible to all visitors throughout the year.
Russian sailors removed the bronze globe and two-headed eagle during political upheaval in 1917, stripping the monument of its crowning elements. After more than 50 years, these pieces were restored to the memorial in 1971, returning it to its original completed form.
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