Pommern

About the museum

Pommern was built in 1903 by J. Reid & Co in Scotland and bought in 1923 by the Åland shipowner Gustaf Erikson. Before that she was owned by several German shipping companies. She sailed in Erikson’s fleet until 1939, mainly to Australia to load wheat that was sold in Europe. In 1953 Pommern was donated by Gustaf Erikson’s children to the City of Mariehamn, and since then she has been a museum ship.

Pommern is the only four-masted barque in the world that has been preserved in original condition, and no major structural changes have been made over the years. The ship is 94.67 metres long, has 28 sails with a total sail area of 3,240 m², and the mainmast is 48 metres high. Thanks to modern equipment for its time, she managed with a crew of only 26.

Today the ship is still owned by the City of Mariehamn but is on deposit with the Stiftelsen Ålands sjöfartsmuseum (Åland Maritime Museum Foundation), which looks after maintenance and the exhibitions on board. Since April 2019 Pommern has lain at her new quay below the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum, and restoration and conservation work on board continues all year round. The visitor experience Pommern – 100 Days Under Sail lets visitors take part in the everyday life of a sailor in the 1930s during the ship’s annual voyage on the wheat route to Australia.

Highlights

• The only preserved four-masted barque in original condition
• The visitor experience Pommern – 100 Days Under Sail on three decks
• The cargo hold with sound and light installation
• Audio guide and the children’s trail Ruby’s Journey
• The same ticket as the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum

Permanent exhibition

• Pommern – 100 dagar under segel – The visitor experience lets visitors take part in life on board during a voyage to Australia in the 1930s, from the weather deck and middle deck to the cargo hold.

Founded

1953

Operated by

Stiftelsen Ålands sjöfartsmuseum

Admission & discounts

The ticket is bought at the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum and includes two visits: one to Pommern and one to the museum, or a return visit. Free admission with the annual pass of the Finnish Museums Association.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Visitors cross the footbridge from the terrace of the maritime museum; the footbridge leads down to the deck by a staircase and a simple lift, so that wheelchair users and pushchair users can also come on board. Pommern has three decks with both stairs and a lift between the decks, and seating is available on all three decks. There are high thresholds to the living quarters on the weather deck, for example to the galley and the captain’s saloon. There are no toilets on Pommern; they are inside the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

The ship’s rat Ruby is the children’s guide on the audio trail Ruby’s Journey. On the middle deck, visitors can try, among other things, sewing sails and unloading ballast at eight activity stations.

Getting there & parking

Pommern lies at her own special quay below the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum in Mariehamn’s Västerhamn, about 500 metres from the ferry terminals and one kilometre from Torget. The ship is reached via the footbridge from the museum’s west terrace.

Amenities & dining

Simple refreshments are sold at the reception of the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit