Kasvimuseo

Kasvimuseo is a botanical research facility in Helsinki's Kluuvi district that stores vast collections of plant specimens for scientific study. The building houses millions of dried and preserved samples organized for botanists and researchers to examine and compare.

The collection began in 1678 when a botanical garden was established at Turku Academy to support natural science education. The current building was constructed in 1903 after the collections moved to Helsinki and the University expanded its research operations.

The building plays a central role in Finnish academic life by supporting botanical research and connecting scholars across institutions. It reflects how Helsinki has become a hub for natural science research and knowledge sharing among experts.

The facility is not open to the general public as it operates as a working research center rather than a museum for visitors. Those interested in the collections for academic purposes can inquire about research access or specimen loans through the University of Helsinki.

The collection grows steadily each year, with some specimens stored in unexpected places like the National Library basement due to space constraints. This arrangement reveals how active the research work is and how important these materials have become to Finnish science.