Gustaf Erikson and his Windjammer Legacy
Gustaf Erikson once owned Åland, Finland and the world’s largest sailing ship company. The archive that was left behind provides a unique insight into our shipping history. It is now proposed that the shipping company Gustaf Erikson’s archive 1913-1949 become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Register.
THE PONAPE SAIL SHIP – A DREAM OF THE OCEAN
In a private home in Mariehamn one can find one of the world’s finest and most detailed ship models. It was built by an Åland sailor in a POW camp during World War II with neither drawings nor tools at hand. How did he do it? Who was he? Watch the moving documentary “Dreaming of Ponape – a man and his model”
Guided tours of the Åland Maritime Museum and onboard the tall ship Pommern.
Let our knowledgeable guides inspire you and bring to life the maritime history of Åland using our splendid exhibits. The guided tours can be ordered in Swedish, Finnish and English.
The best things about the Maritime Museum
Linnea (7) and Julia (9) have visited the Maritime Museum many times, both with their family and with nursery and school. Both of them have also hosted their birthday parties at the museum. We asked the girls what they like
Small things
with big stories
The museum’s collection contains a number of interesting objects that are currently not shown in the exhibitions. Some of them are presented in this digital version of our temporary exhibition “Hilda’s perfume – on the soul of things” which was shown in 2020-2022.
Experience and discover Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum
Worldclass ship's models
The Åland Maritime Museum has an impressive collection of ship’s models, mostly sailing ships. Some were made on board ship by sailors in their spare time; others were made by professional model makers. Common to all of them is that they are very high standard and show evidence of skill, knowledge and patience.
The most kid-friendly museum on Åland
At the Åland Maritime Museum there are a lot of things for families to discover and do. Go aloft, stow cargo and take command of your own ship. Finding the ship’s rat Ruby’s own mini exhibitions, cleverly hidden in cute little ratholes in the museum, is a task that everybody can get involved in. And don’t miss our imaginative children’s room Ruby and the Sea. Here you can dive into the sea and discover wrecks, secret mermaid grottos and exciting sea creatures.
