Helsinki’s strikingly original Art Nouveau railway station (Helsingin päärautatieasema) was designed by Eliel Saarinen and is especially notable for American tourists because its 48-meter-high clock tower was the first of several designs that finally resulted in Saarinen’s 1922 Chicago Tribune Tower America’s first skyscraper.
The exterior of the station is made of local granite, featuring an immense archway over the entrance, which is flanked by two giant statues on each side. The figures each hold globes illuminating the façade at night, making a striking landmark. Inside, visitors will find towering arched halls and surprisingly delicate carved panels that decorate the walls.
