Ainola

During his studies in Helsinki, Sibelius met Armas Järnefelt and through him also his sister, Aino Järnefelt. Armas Järnefelt would later reminisce about how Sibelius was infatuated with Aino from the first moment he saw her. The young couple was engaged in 1890, the wedding taking place in June 1892 at Tottesund Mansion in Maxmo, near Vaasa.

The Sibelius family lived in several apartments in Helsinki and Kerava between 1892 and 1904. At the end of the 19^th century, author Juhani Aho got himself a house on the shores of Lake Tuusula which inspired artists Pekka Halonen and Eero Järnefelt, Aino’s brother, to do the same. Attracted by the calm of the countryside, Sibelius also purchased a plot of land in the area in 1903. Designed by architect Lars Sonck, a villa was completed in autumn 1904 and christened Ainola — the home of the Sibeliuses for the rest of their lives.

At the grounds of Ainola, space was cleared for a garden early on, primarily to cultivate food crops for personal use. Aino Sibelius was a passionate and skilled gardener, with her apples receiving awards on two occasions at agricultural shows.

Jean and Aino Sibelius had six daughters: Eva, Ruth, Kirsti, Katarina, Margareta and Heidi. All the daughters lived at least some of their life at Ainola, with the exception of Kirsti, who died an infant in Helsinki. Today Ainola functions as a home museum owned by the Finnish state.

Some of the few artefacts in Sibelius Museum's collection that were owned and used by Sibelius himself. Sibelius was known for his style, never appearing without dressed in a suit. His cane was also mostly fashionable instead of providing support. The hat and the cane were donated by Sibelius' daughter in 1968.