The Estonian National Museum was established to preserve and transmit Estonian culture and history. Located in Tartu, it has a characteristic elongated shape with a total length of 355 meters. The ceiling was very high, and the building was overwhelming as we approached. The walls of the entrance were patterned, showing the attention to detail. The Estonian National Museum was designed by Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane, who says that the building was originally a military airstrip and that it was designed to have depth, as if to connect memories. The vertical exhibition room was designed to allow visitors to feel the flow of time as they moved through the exhibition space. The exhibition was not merely an inorganic arrangement of artworks, but rather an organic and warm atmosphere with curves and wood. There was no fixed route for viewing the exhibits, and I was able to see the exhibits as my mind led me. The explanations were written in Estonian, but when visitors hold up their cards, other languages, such as English, are displayed, making the museum friendly to those who do not understand Estonian. I felt that the Estonian National Museum is a place where everyone, young and old, can enjoy learning about Estonian history.
With exhibits in tents and old houses that could actually be entered, the space seemed to be a place where both children and adults could learn through hands-on experience. The walls of the children's play area were surrounded by lockers with cute illustrations of history, tickling the children's curiosity to open the doors. Inside some of the doors were models of houses. Perhaps another exciting point is that not all the lockers are inside. It was Independence Day and admission was free, so there were many people. Children were running around in the museum, and adults were exchanging opinions while looking at the exhibits, creating a lively atmosphere unlike the quiet atmosphere of Japanese museums. Overall, many of the exhibits conveyed Estonian history and culture. There were few paintings, but rather old cooking utensils, furniture, and clothing. There are various ethnic groups within Estonia, and many of the costumes and tools on display showed regional characteristics. Many of the traditional costumes were designed with red as a base color, which seemed to bring warmth to Estonia, where winters are severely cold. There were also many decorative items on display, which gave us a glimpse of the Estonians' standards of beauty. A concert was held to commemorate the anniversary of Estonia's independence, and I was able to experience Estonian culture from a musical perspective as well. The walls were decorated with simple and impressive Scandinavian symbols in the shape of men, women, birds, bears and fish. The museum store also sold a variety of goods. There were many things I wanted to know about these symbols, such as how they were created and what they mean, but I did not know the details, so I wanted to find out.
Near the Estonian National Museum was a building called the "upside-down house”. Everything from the exterior of the house to the details of the interior were upside down, giving us a completely different view of the house than we normally enjoy. Not only we, but also other guests enjoyed this magical space. The "upside down house" is connected to the Estonian National Museum and the AHHAA, and brochures for each facility were available. I felt that not only schools, but also other places where people can learn while having fun are well-developed. Next to the Estonian National Museum, the site of a brick building was still standing. Not only did they preserve the historical site, but they also put old photos between the bricks, and inside there were staircase benches, which were a fusion of preservation and exhibition.
