Estonian Maritime Museum Foundation

The Estonian Maritime Museum is the collector, preserver, researcher, and promoter of Estonia’s maritime culture and maritime history. Our mission is to increase people’s knowledge of, respect for, and love of the sea.

The Estonian Maritime Museum was founded in Tallinn in 1935 by former captains and sailors. Throughout its long history, the museum has moved several times. Since 1981, its main exhibition has been housed in the Fat Margaret cannon tower, which has nearly 500 years of history. In May 2012, the museum opened its second exhibition at the Seaplane Harbour.

Today, the Estonian Maritime Museum is one of the largest and most popular museums in Estonia.

The mission of the Estonian Maritime Museum is to collect, preserve, study, and present to the public the diverse and multi-form material related to Estonia’s maritime history and maritime culture.

Our guiding principle is to grow people’s knowledge of, respect for, and love of the sea. We do this by valuing responsibility, bold thinking, cooperation, and openness.

We aim to continue being a memory institution that meets modern expectations and needs — preserving and researching local cultural heritage while also contributing to education and offering experiences for both domestic and international visitors, thereby enhancing Estonia’s reputation as a cultural tourism destination.

In April 2017, the Estonian Maritime Museum was reorganized into a foundation and now operates as the leading maritime museum in Estonia.

Upcoming major investments include updating the exhibition in Fat Margaret (in place since 1981) and renovating the Seaplane Harbour’s headquarters building and quay.