Skeppsgården i Jakobstad

About the museum

Skeppsgården is located in Gamla hamn (Old Harbour) in Jakobstad, which was the town's most important harbour from the early 17th century to the 1830s. The area is a living shipyard environment, where an active boatbuilding business meets museum exhibitions on shipping and shipbuilding. Jakobstad and its surroundings have shipbuilding traditions more than 450 years old, and the activity is aimed especially at children and young people, highlighting the craft behind traditional wooden shipbuilding.

Vega is a three-masted wooden schooner built in Turku in 1952 as part of Finland's war reparations to the Soviet Union. She is one of only two surviving vessels of the 91 wooden schooners that were handed over. After many years at sea and a long period of decay, the Vega Foundation was formed in 1996 to save her. In a hall of its own, the schooner is shown in three stages: in the bow one sees how she was built, amidships how the damage and decay looked, and in the stern how she is being restored to her condition in 1952.

Also at the shipyard lies the Jacobstads Wapen, a replica of the galleass of the same name. The original was launched in 1767 and was the first ship from Jakobstad to sail abroad after the freedom of shipping in 1765. The replica was built in the 1980s and 1990s to 18th-century drawings. The museum shop sells local crafts and maritime products.

Highlights

• War-reparations schooner Vega in a hall of its own
• Replica of the galleass Jacobstads Wapen
• Shipyard setting in Gamla hamn (Old Harbour)
• Guided viewing included in admission
• Museum shop with local crafts

Permanent exhibitions

• Skonaren Vega – The war-reparations schooner built in 1952 is shown in a hall of its own in three stages: construction, decay and restoration.
• Jacobstads Wapen – Replica of the 18th-century galleass, built in the 1980s and 1990s to old drawings.

Operated by

Vegastiftelsen

Admission & discounts

A guided viewing of Vega and Jacobstads Wapen is always included in the ticket price. Finnish Museum Card (Museikortet) accepted.

Accessibility

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

There is no step-free access to the shipyard hall or to the deck of Jacobstads Wapen. Guided tours for special groups can be ordered.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The activity is aimed especially at children and young people.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café, lounge area with seating and museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit