Ålands sjöfartsmuseum

About the museum

The foundations of the museum were laid by sea captain Carl Holmqvist, who began collecting nautical objects from the era of sailing ships in the 1920s. In 1935 he, together with other maritime enthusiasts, founded the association Ålands Nautical Club, whose main goal was to build and run an Åland maritime museum. The museum building was designed by architect Jonas Cedercreutz from Helsinki and was completed in 1949, and the museum opened to the public on 29 August 1954.

Stiftelsen Ålands sjöfartsmuseum (Åland Maritime Museum Foundation) was formed in 1986 by the Ålands Nautical Club and the Åland Government. An extension and comprehensive renovation began in autumn 2009 and was inaugurated on 26 April 2012; the extension was designed by Johanna Vuorinen and Esa Kangas. In March 2015 the foundation took over the operation of the historic sailing ship Pommern, which is owned by the City of Mariehamn.

The exhibitions tell of how the sea has affected island people at all times, and the collection includes ship models, figureheads and ship environments built around original equipment and interiors. The museum was named Finland’s Museum of the Year in 2016.

Highlights

• Ship models, including Runar Husell’s model of the Ponape
• Figureheads and ship environments with original equipment
• The children’s play room Ruby och Havet för barn
• The sailing ship Pommern is included in the same ticket
• Finland’s Museum of the Year 2016

Permanent exhibitions

• Segelsjöfarten – The exhibition tells of how the people of Åland have crossed the seas under sail in all eras; Mariehamn was the home port of the world’s last large sailing-ship fleet.
• Maskinsjöfarten – Motor-driven shipping came late to Åland, but it became the engine of the modernisation of the whole Åland society.
• Skeppsbyggnad – Although there was no industrial shipyard activity, hundreds of larger ships were built on Åland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Founded

1954

Operated by

Stiftelsen Ålands sjöfartsmuseum

Admission & discounts

The admission fee includes two visits: a return visit to the museum or a visit to the sailing ship Pommern with the same ticket (Pommern is closed 1 October–30 April). Free admission with the annual pass of the Finnish Museums Association (Finlands museiförbunds årskort). A low-season ticket at a special price of €10 for adults and €7 for children, students and pensioners is sold on site 1 October–30 April and cannot be combined with other discounts.

Accessibility

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

Lifts and ramps allow visitors with pushchairs and visitors with disabilities to move around the whole museum; the play room also has a lift. A wheelchair and rollator can be borrowed at the reception. A hearing loop is in the auditorium and at the reception. Some of the displayed collections are outside glass so that objects can be experienced by touch, and the museum strives for easy-to-read texts.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The museum calls itself Åland’s most child-friendly museum. Children and adults can go on a treasure hunt with the ship’s rat Ruby, hoist sails, stow cargo and play in the Ruby och Havet play room. Baby-changing rooms are on the same floor as the reception and in the play room.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Mariehamn’s Västerhamn, about 500 metres from the ferry terminals and one kilometre from Torget.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Simple refreshments such as coffee, squash, ice cream and chocolate can be bought at the reception. Restaurant Nautical and Adlon’s pizzeria are open all year round, and ÅSS Paviljongen and Pub Albin are summer restaurants nearby.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum offers conference and event facilities.

Plan your visit