A blank diary is nothing but paper and covers. But when it is filled with thoughts, reflections, notes; when it’s filled with the very essence of a person, that is when it becomes invaluable. A time capsule that helps us get very close to people who lived in a by-gone era. Often, they were not that different from us.
The five survivors recount terrible stories of people hanging on to anything that floats and of desperate fights for room on the debris. After ten minutes in the freezing cold water the cries start to die down. Eighty-six people are lost on the Rödhamnsfjärden that day, together with ss Skiftet.
There is only one medical instruments case in the Åland Maritime Museum’s collections. It belonged to the legendary Gustaf Erikson – Ålands best-known ship owner. Every master had his own case. Being highest in rank on board also included being responsible for the crew’s medical needs. The heaviness of that burden is displayed in the story of a serious accident on board the four-masted barque Marlborough Hill, en route from Africa to Australia. Seaman Virtanen slips on the upper top … Read more
The life of a tall ship sailor was a tough one, but at times also infinitely monotonous.
The waters in Åland archipelago are notorious among seafarers. More than 500 known wrecks – and probably as many unknown ones – rest underneath the surface.
In the summer of 2018, a film camera is donated to the Åland Maritime Museum. As a surprise, two reels of exposed 8-millimetre film ready to be developed, comes with the gift.
A small delicate perfume bottle in a wash bag for ladies – what relevance has it in the collections of a maritime museum?
Greasing, painting, splicing wire and rope, mending and making sails, coiling, building, forging and repairing… A deep-sea sailor is a true Jack of all trades and needs a score of specialised tools.
