What to do and see in Tallinn, Harju County: The Best History Museums

If you like history, mythology, jewellery and design, or are a serious scholar of phaleristics - be sure to plan a visit to the Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. Among our most prized possessions are decorations of the Orders of the Garter, the Golden Fleece, Malta, Black Eagle and the Legion of Honour. The museum introduces visitors to the history of various Orders of Chivalry by presenting their exquisite badges, stars and collars - true masterpieces of art and craftsmanship, often lavishly decorated with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Many are of an immense historical value as they once belonged to emperors, princes and princesses, famous military commanders, presidents, and politicians. Highlights of the collection include the Order of the White Eagle which belonged to Russian Emperor Peter the Great, insignia of the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie and Britain’s Princess Mary’s star of the Order of the British Empire and many others.

The exhibition shows 60 objects which have been reconstructed on the basis of original Leonardo da Vinci sketches. Thanks to interactive exhibits,everyone can experience himself the mechanisms of these inventions that were centuries ahead of their time and an inspiration for contemporary engineering.

Within just a 15-minute drive from the center of Tallinn there is a delightful place – the Estonian Open Air Museum that invites you to see rural architecture and get acquainted with village life. The 14 farms of the museum show the visitor the life of families of different income and occupation in the 18th-20th centuries. As in anyreal village, there is a church, an inn, a school, a number of mills, a fire station, a village shop and net sheds by the sea. Although 74 buildings have been brought over so far, the museum is far from being completed; it is constantly changing and developing. You can have good time and also learn something at the Estonian Open Air Museum in any season!

The Estonian Film Museum was founded in the autumn of 2006, with the goal of documenting the history of Estonian film. The Film Museum has its own building (opened in 2017) in the park of Maarjamäe Palace. The exhibition "TAKE ONE" invites to take a closer look at the secret world of moving pictures, and are also given an opportunity to assume the role of a filmmaker.

Occupations, resistance, restoration, and freedom. These are the words that reflect the new permanent exhibition of Vabamu - The Museum of Occupations and Freedom. It is a compelling museum about the recent history of Estonians, human values, and the role that people and their choices play in maintaining freedom. The brand new and modern permanent exhibition of the museum offers activities and something to think about for visitors of all ages. We will take you on a journey through the recent history of Estonia that is filled with thrilling stories. At the exhibition, you will be accompanied by an e-guide, who can speak Estonian, English, Russian, Finnish, German, Spanish, and French. The e-guide will discuss the topics of the museum and provide detailed reading material about the exhibits. Between stories, you will hear authentic memories of victims, perpetrators, accomplices, freedom fighters, collaborators, rebels, etc. The museum is accessible for visitors with disabilities.

The Estonian History Museum´s renovated Maarjamäe Palace opened to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The palace with its grand steps leading down to the sea shore was built in 1874 as a summer manor for the count Orlov-Davydov on the grounds of a former sugar factory. Later is operated as a restaurant and aviation school. During the soviet period it was used as communal apartments and in 1987 it was extended and became the History and Revolution Museum. Nowadays it is a part of Estonian History Museum. Maarjamäe Palace´s large scale exhibition "My Free Country" was opened in 2018. One can also find here the Childrens Republic - playful learning environment specifically designed for the children. There are temporary exhibitions, museum shop and a restaurant located in the palace. In former summer hall one can see Evald Okas´large mural "Friendship of Nations" (1987)- one of the few monumental paintings from Soviet periord survived in its original location.

Peter the Great's house is the oldest museum in Tallinn. It exhibits a unique collection of genuine objects that surrounded Peter I and Catherine I of Russia during their day-to-day life in Estonia. The couple had stayed in this house several times since 1714. The manor house from the 17th century was purchased by Peter the Great from a widow of a town alderman. Russian Tsar also bought neighboring estates, sum of which reached all together 100 hectares. On that land in 1718 the Tsar initiated laying out the palace and park ensemble that was named Katharinenthal (Kadriorg) in honor of his wife Catherine I. The purchase of the house was closely linked to the events of the Great Northern War (1700-1721) and Peter the Great's preparation for the naval campaign against Sweden which ended with the victory of Russian navy in the Battle of Gangut (Hanko) in 1714. The house is located on a hill with views of the sea and the city. As a result, the Tsar was able to track the movement of Swedish ships that quite often approached the city. The house also provided much-needed privacy to the Tsar's wife, who continued travelling with Peter I despite being pregnant in 1714. A small garden was found next to the house. The garden was used to grow flowers and herbs. After the death of Peter the Great the house was not used by the royal family. Following an order from Alexander I in 1804 the house was renovated and opened as a museum in 1806. In 1941 the house became a branch of the Tallinn City Museum.