in Colorization, Places & People

Incredible Colorized Photos Show Finland in the Early 20th Century

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The early human settlement in Finland dates back to 9,000 BC. Between the 12th and 19th centuries, Finland was part of the Swedish Empire.  In 1906, the Parliament of Finland (the “Eduskunta”) passed a law that established universal suffrage, including the right for women to stand for elected office, for the first time in Europe. During the Russian Revolution in 1917, Finland gained independence soon after its independent Civil War erupted, which led to over 30,000 casualties.

Throughout the Second World War, Finland fought against the Soviet Union, Initially Safeguarding its Liberty from the Winter War and then Threatening the Soviet Union in the Continuation War. From the peace settlement, Finland ended up ceding a vast portion of Karelia and various other regions into the Soviet Union. But Finland remained a different democracy in Northern Europe.

Here are some incredible colorized photographs of Finland from the early 20th century. These photographs show streets, landmarks, and everyday life of Finland from the 1900s to the 1930s.

#2 Flax processing in the village of Pörtom in Ostrobothnia (Swedish speaking area in Finland) in 1912

Flax processing in the village of Pörtom in Ostrobothnia (Swedish speaking area in Finland) in 1912

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#3 A traditional wedding cortege in the Swedish speaking area of Ostrobothnia in Finland on the way to church, 1913

A traditional wedding cortege in the Swedish speaking area of Ostrobothnia in Finland on the way to church, 1913

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#4 Man driving a Daimler cabriolet in Helsinki, circa late 1920s

Man driving a Daimler cabriolet in Helsinki, circa late 1920s

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#5 Harvesting barley in the Swedish speaking county of Ostrobothnia in Finland in 1915

Harvesting barley in the Swedish speaking county of Ostrobothnia in Finland in 1915

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#6 The family cabriolet on the Senate square, with the Cathedral in the background, Helsinki in 1920

The family cabriolet on the Senate square, with the Cathedral in the background, Helsinki in 1920

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#7 A local bus in Helsinki, 1900s

A local bus in Helsinki, 1900s

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#11 A young woman and a cat photographed by the Finland-Swedish poet Edith Södergran, 1910s

A young woman and a cat photographed by the Finland-Swedish poet Edith Södergran, 1910s

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#12 An idyllic summer day in the Åland archipelago, 1910

An idyllic summer day in the Åland archipelago, 1910

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#13 Danish pilot on the lookout for am approaching ship on the Danish island of Nyord in 1910

Danish pilot on the lookout for am approaching ship on the Danish island of Nyord in 1910

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#14 The western part of the Kaivopuisto park in Helsinki in 1910

The western part of the Kaivopuisto park in Helsinki in 1910

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#16 Morning coffee on the afterdeck, somewhere in the Finnish archipelago in 1920

Morning coffee on the afterdeck, somewhere in the Finnish archipelago in 1920

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#17 Preparing for departure, somewhere in the southern Finnish archipelago, 1920s

Preparing for departure, somewhere in the southern Finnish archipelago, 1920s

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#19 A modern kitchen of the then newly opened Elanto co-operative restaurant in Helsinki at Viipuri street 4, 1930

A modern kitchen of the then newly opened Elanto co-operative restaurant in Helsinki at Viipuri street 4, 1930

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#20 Two young ladies in Helsinki smoking and drinking cognac with coffee in the early 1930s

Two young ladies in Helsinki smoking and drinking cognac with coffee in the early 1930s

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#21 The De Havilland D.H.60X “Pilvetär” in Helsinki, 1931

The De Havilland D.H.60X "Pilvetär" in Helsinki, 1931

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#22 The Hanoverian stallion foal Khedio at the Pickala mansion in southern Finland in 1931

The Hanoverian stallion foal Khedio at the Pickala mansion in southern Finland in 1931

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#23 Three ladies from Dagsmark in the Swedish-speaking area of Ostrothnia in Finland, 1935

Three ladies from Dagsmark in the Swedish-speaking area of Ostrothnia in Finland, 1935

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#24 A Russian ice cream vendor in Helsinki, 1900s

A Russian ice cream vendor in Helsinki, 1900s

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#25 Finnish painter Hugo Simberg photographed his two year old son Tom in Helsinki’s Southern Harbour.

Finnish painter Hugo Simberg photographed his two year old son Tom in Helsinki's Southern Harbour.

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#27 Helsinki’s first motorized fire truck, 1920s.

Helsinki's first motorized fire truck, 1920s.

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#29 The K.M. Brondin bakery delivery truck in Helsinki, 1920s.

The K.M. Brondin bakery delivery truck in Helsinki, 1920s.

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#31 Three gentlemen posing in front of Helsinki’s new railways station, 1900s.

Three gentlemen posing in front of Helsinki's new railways station, 1900s.

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#33 Finnish veteranarian Bernhard Åberg and his Harley Davidson in 1922

Finnish veteranarian Bernhard Åberg and his Harley Davidson in 1922

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#34 The Sports Committee of the city of Helsinki inspecting a future location for a children’s playground in 1923

The Sports Committee of the city of Helsinki inspecting a future location for a children's playground in 1923

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#35 Girls from the private school Privata Svenska Flickskolan, Finland at a cooking lesson, 1930s

Girls from the private school Privata Svenska Flickskolan, Finland at a cooking lesson, 1930s

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#36 The German airship Graf Zeppelin in Helsinki, 1930

The German airship Graf Zeppelin in Helsinki, 1930

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#37 Cargo and passenger ship S/S Aranda in Helsinki, 1931

Cargo and passenger ship S/S Aranda in Helsinki, 1931

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#39 A traditional fishing boat in the Finnish archipelago in 1932

A traditional fishing boat in the Finnish archipelago in 1932

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#41 The village of Koskeby in Vörå, Ostrobothnia in the 1930s

The village of Koskeby in Vörå, Ostrobothnia in the 1930s

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#42 Window display of Goldfish swimwear and beach fashion in Helsinki in the 1930s

Window display of Goldfish swimwear and beach fashion in Helsinki in the 1930s

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#43 A small boat approaching Helsinki’s Southern harbor, 1900s.

A small boat approaching Helsinki's Southern harbor, 1900s.

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#44 A summer day in Kaivopuisto park, 1910s

A summer day in Kaivopuisto park, 1910s

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#45 Drying and maintaining fishing nets in Helsinki, 1910s.

Drying and maintaining fishing nets in Helsinki, 1910s.

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#47 Imperial Russian Navy sailors returning to ship in Helsinki, 1920s.

Imperial Russian Navy sailors returning to ship in Helsinki, 1920s.

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#48 Norddeutscher Loyd´s brand new steamship Grosser Kurfürst on its first visit to Helsinki, 1920s.

Norddeutscher Loyd´s brand new steamship Grosser Kurfürst on its first visit to Helsinki, 1920s.

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#49 Russian Imperial Yacht Standart leaves Helsinki, 1920s.

Russian Imperial Yacht Standart leaves Helsinki, 1920s.

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#51 Summer sailing in Helsinki, 1930s.

Summer sailing in Helsinki, 1930s.

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#52 The Finnish Steamship Co Ltd. (FÅA) combined passenger and cargo ship S/S Urania in the Helsinki Southern harbour

The Finnish Steamship Co Ltd. (FÅA) combined passenger and cargo ship S/S Urania in the Helsinki Southern harbour

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#53 The former Russian Imperial Yacht Standart leaves Helsinki, 1910s.

The former Russian Imperial Yacht Standart leaves Helsinki, 1910s.

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#54 The nurses’ dining room at the Kivelä hospital in Helsinki

The nurses' dining room at the Kivelä hospital in Helsinki

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#55 The two former Imperial Yachts, “Polar Star” (in front) and “Standart” together in Helsinki, 1900s.

The two former Imperial Yachts, “Polar Star” (in front) and “Standart” together in Helsinki, 1900s.

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Written by Jacob Aberto

Sincere, friendly, curious, ambitious, enthusiast. I'm a content crafter and social media expert. I love Classic Movies because their dialogue, scenery and stories are awesome.

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