Exhibitions

The exhibitions at the Åland Maritime Museum tells stories of how the contradictory and omnipresent sea since time immemorial has affected the Åland islanders.

Our exhibitions take all our visitors on an exciting historical voyage. Personal stories are mixed with rare objects and entertaining activities. Our ambition is to awaken your curiosity and encourage conversations.

At the Åland Maritime Museum we can boast with a world class collection. Apart from incredibly fine models and impressive figureheads, there is also recreated ship interiors built up around original equipment, furnishings and objects. These come alive through photographs, stories and activities.

A model sailing ship on display in a glass case at a maritime museum, among other impressive ship models in the Exhibitions.

The Sailing Ship Era

Since time immemorial, sailing has been the Åland way of voyaging across the seas, and Mariehamn was the home port for the world’s last fleet of tall ships.

A detailed model steamship, a tribute to Machine Seafaring, is displayed in a glass case on a wooden cabinet, with a mirrored background reflecting the ship.

Engine-powered shipping

Engine-powered shipping was late in coming on Åland but once it had been established, it became the motor for modernizing Åland society at large.

Two people look at a museum exhibit reminiscent of a cabinet of curiosities, with woodworking tools on the wall and a detailed model ship model in a glass case.

Shipbuilding

Despite shipbuilding never growing into an industry in its own right, hundreds of ships were built here.

Two elderly women read information on a display about maritime safety at a maritime museum, with a model ship and a ship's steering wheel visible in the background.

Safety at Sea

The sea and the wind are powerful natural elements that no human can tame. That said, there is plenty that can be done to promote safety on board and ashore.

A black sign with white and red text that says SJÖMANsHEM ROOM FOR TRAVELERS in Swedish, seen in Mariehamn.

Maritime Mariehamn

From the founding of Mariehamn in 1861 it has been a maritime town. This is were the professional shipping industry developed and this is were successful master mariners build their splendid homes.

Cabinet of Curiosities

A cabinet of curiosities is made up of an eclectic collection of object that becomes a representation of all the world’s wonders and oddities in miniature.

A museum room displays ship's clocks, plaques, nautical memorabilia, a model ship, a bust, a woven banner and a TV screen showing a person's face – celebrating maritime history and legends like those who braved Cape Horn.

The Cape Horn Room

Amicale Internationale des Capitaines au Long Cours de Cape Horniers was an exclusive club for seafarers who had rounded the notorious Cape Horn in a cargo-carrying sailing vessel.

Cruise Fever

CRUISE FEVER is a nostalgic family exhibition about ferry crews and leisure cruises. Experience life on board the ferries of the 1970s and 1980s, when passenger traffic on the Baltic Sea was developing at a rapid pace and fundamentally changing life in Åland. Step aboard the museum’s own ferry! Stand behind the counter at the duty-free kiosk, welcome passengers at reception and listen to stories from behind the scenes.