The Helsinki astronomical observatory was designed in cooperation by professor Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander and architect Carl Ludvig Engel.

Its instruments and astronomical books had escaped the great fire in Turku and were then transferred to Helsinki.

A separate tower was built in the observatory garden for a telescope designed for astrophotography.

The observatory is located in the city centre and has not been in active use since the mid-20th century.

The observatory building was thoroughly renovated and re-opened as a museum and visitor centre in 2012.