Strandingsmuseum St. George

About the museum

On December 24, 1811, the British ships of the line HMS St. George and HMS Defence ran aground in a hurricane off Thorsminde. Of the more than 1,400 sailors combined, only 17 survived – one of the greatest stranding disasters in history. After salvage operations from 1876, recreational divers of the Holstebroer Froschmannklubs Delfinen rediscovered the wreck of the St. George in 1970; archaeological excavations followed from 1983.

For the finds, the Strandingsmuseum St. George opened on April 3, 1992 as a department of the Ringkøbing Museum; the then Ulfborg-Vemb Kommune had made the construction possible with the support of the Ringkøbing Amt and the EC. In 2001 the building was expanded and received a marine archaeology center, which is responsible for the underwater cultural heritage along the west coast from the Limfjord to the border.

In 2003, during work for a wind farm south of Lolland, the huge rudder that the St. George had lost a few weeks before the stranding was found. After rebuilding and an extension of about 1,000 square meters, the museum reopened on May 19, 2017 – with a purpose-built tower in which the rudder hangs and which also offers a panoramic view over sea and fjord.

Since the structural reform of 2007 the museum has belonged to the Holstebro Museum, today part of De Kulturhistoriske Museer i Holstebro. The exhibitions deal with the dangerous west coast, the sinking of the two ships, how coastal residents dealt with strandings, and the cultural heritage on the seabed.

Highlights

• Original rudder of HMS St. George in the observation tower
• 1:48 scale model of HMS St. George
• Original finds from the wreck, including an anchor and ship's bell
• Interactive floor game "Skjulte Skatte"
• Panoramic view over the North Sea, fjord and Thorsminde

Permanent exhibitions

• Det originale ror fra HMS St. George – The rudder of the St. George, recovered in 2003 and about eleven meters tall, hangs in one of the largest display cases in Denmark in the museum's tower.
• St. George-model og originale genstande – A detailed 1:48 scale model of the St. George stands amid original finds from the wreck.
• En af historiens største strandinger – The exhibition depicts the last voyage of the St. George and the Defence up to the stranding off Thorsminde at Christmas 1811.

Founded

1992

Operated by

De Kulturhistoriske Museer i Holstebro

Director

Kasper Rathjen

Admission & discounts

Online every ticket is DKK 10 cheaper: adults DKK 110 online, DKK 120 at the ticket desk. Free admission with an ICOM card and the DKM VIP card of the Kulturhistoriske Museer i Holstebro, among others. The museum shop and lounge are accessible without a ticket.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Elevator to all floors, accessible toilet, benches in the exhibitions and a lounge for resting. In some exhibitions dramatic light and sound effects are used.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

In the interactive floor game "Skjulte Skatte" children search for treasure on the seabed. In the autumn holidays there is a quiz through the exhibition. In front of the museum is a maritime playground.

Getting there & parking

Mailing address: Vesterhavsgade 1E, Thorsminde, 6990 Ulfborg – at the harbor of Thorsminde.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop

No café: coffee from the vending machine in the lounge area (do not take into the exhibitions). Food brought from outside is not allowed in the museum – tables and benches at the harbor and at the maritime playground in front of the museum. Museum shop with souvenirs and local specialties.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit