Vaasan merimuseo
Maritime museum on the shore of the Palosaari strait, in a 19th-century salt warehouse, with ship models, shipwreck finds and boat engines.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vaasa was once an important shipowning and seafaring town. The Vaasan merimuseo (Vaasa Maritime Museum) presents the local maritime heritage from 19th-century shipbuilding to today's cruise ships. The museum operates on the shore of the Palosaari strait, where the centre of Vaasa's outer harbour and shipyard operations stood for 150 years. Along the shore in the 19th and early 20th centuries there were merchants' sheds and warehouses.
The museum building is a salt warehouse built in the mid-19th century by the shipowner Wolff, which has survived well thanks to the preserving effect of salt. There are four original harbour warehouses in the area, one of which probably dates from the late 18th century and was moved here from Old Vaasa.
The exhibitions contain photographs, models and objects. At the entrance there is a large lighthouse lamp from the Valsörarna lighthouse, and the walls carry information on the lighthouses of the Kvarken (Merenkurkku) and on the lives of lighthouse keepers. Wrecks have remained on the Kvarken shoals as a result of groundings, and objects found from them are on display. One of the museum's highlights is an early-20th-century diving suit weighing about 100 kilograms. The upper exhibition hall has models of historical vessels and ships of the Vaasa–Umeå traffic. For technically minded visitors, around a hundred boat engines are on display, representing Vaasa's engine makers, such as Wickström and Wärtsilä.
Highlights
- Lighthouse lamp from the Valsörarna lighthouse
- Diving suit from the early 20th century
- Ship models
- About a hundred boat engines from Vaasa manufacturers
- 19th-century salt warehouse
Permanent exhibitions
- Vaasan merenkulun historia – Photographs, models and objects on Vaasa's shipbuilding, shipwrecks, lighthouses and passenger traffic.
- Venemoottorit – A collection of about a hundred boat engines from various Vaasa engine makers.
- Operated by
- Vaasan Merihistorian Yhdistys
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3children, students and pensioners |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 6 · Under-7s enter free. |
| Seniors | €3 |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups | €8 per personGuided groups pay €8 per person, at least €80 per group; guided tours must be booked in advance. |
Payment methods are cash and card.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- 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
The first floor is step-free.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on the shore of the Palosaari strait in Vaasa.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups by arrangement. |
