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Temporary exhibitions of Maritime Museum of Finland

Port in Transition 1800-2010 together with the Museum of Kymenlaakso
Oulu - Liverpool - Kotka - Helsinki
7 May 2010-15 January 2012

Oulu (1800–1860), Liverpool (1860–1930), Kotka (1950–1970), Helsinki (2010). Four ports from four eras. Each one represents a period in the history of seafaring over the last 200 years. They have much to tell us about trade and shipping as well as the history of internationalisation, technology, the global economy and the environment.

In the early 19th century, Oulu was a busy port for sailing ships. Its main exports were tar and timber. It was an important point of contact for trade and information between northern and eastern Finland and the rest of the world. Ships from Oulu could be seen all over the world.

Liverpool was one of the world’s largest ports in the 19th century. Raw materials and consumer goods passed through the city on their way to Europe’s developing markets. Liverpool’s main ‘exports’ were the migrants setting out for America and tourists in search of luxury. Liverpool was also a place that was familiar to thousands of Finnish seamen and migrants.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Kotka was one of Finland’s biggest ports of export. It witnessed the final days of manual stevedoring, as cranes and mechanisation quickly took over. Manual loading and unloading was a slow process and took a lot of manpower – and that included both men and women. The ships and their crews would spend several days in the port, and they left their mark on the city.

Helsinki’s Vuosaari Harbour became Finland’s main port for foreign trade in 2008. It exports Finnish industrial products around the world and imports domestic appliances and food for all of us. However, the ordinary inhabitants of the city know little about their modern-day port as the harbour and docks are closed to outsiders.

Port activity has always been reflected in the natural and urban environment. There has been a dramatic increase in traffic at ports in the past 200 years. It has become a lot faster to get from one place to another and ships have grown to a phenomenal size. The use of containers in shipping has revolutionised the global economy perhaps just as much as the internet. Ports have an indirect effect on all our lives, every day of the year.

Welcome to discover the colourful journey of four harbours through centuries!

 Wisely on Water
2 June 2010-15 January 2011

Over the decades, various bodies in Finland have campaigned for better safety on the water. One of the most visible results of these efforts today is the Wisely on Water campaign, which takes a proactive approach to prevent drowning fatalities through publicity on how to be safe on (and in) the water.

The exhibition illustrates water traffic safety issues in summer and winter. It describes the history of swimming instruction, among other things, and its displays include water rescue equipment and instructions on how to use them. There are also tips on how every one of us can improve safety on the water.
 

Temporary exhibitions of Museum of Kymenlaakso

Port in Transition 1800-2010 together with the Maritime Museum of Finland
Oulu - Liverpool - Kotka - Helsinki
7 May 2010-15 January 2012

Oulu (1800–1860), Liverpool (1860–1930), Kotka (1950–1970), Helsinki (2010). Four ports from four eras. Each one represents a period in the history of seafaring over the last 200 years. They have much to tell us about trade and shipping as well as the history of internationalisation, technology, the global economy and the environment.

In the early 19th century, Oulu was a busy port for sailing ships. Its main exports were tar and timber. It was an important point of contact for trade and information between northern and eastern Finland and the rest of the world. Ships from Oulu could be seen all over the world.

Liverpool was one of the world’s largest ports in the 19th century. Raw materials and consumer goods passed through the city on their way to Europe’s developing markets. Liverpool’s main ‘exports’ were the migrants setting out for America and tourists in search of luxury. Liverpool was also a place that was familiar to thousands of Finnish seamen and migrants.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Kotka was one of Finland’s biggest ports of export. It witnessed the final days of manual stevedoring, as cranes and mechanisation quickly took over. Manual loading and unloading was a slow process and took a lot of manpower – and that included both men and women. The ships and their crews would spend several days in the port, and they left their mark on the city.

Helsinki’s Vuosaari Harbour became Finland’s main port for foreign trade in 2008. It exports Finnish industrial products around the world and imports domestic appliances and food for all of us. However, the ordinary inhabitants of the city know little about their modern-day port as the harbour and docks are closed to outsiders.

Port activity has always been reflected in the natural and urban environment. There has been a dramatic increase in traffic at ports in the past 200 years. It has become a lot faster to get from one place to another and ships have grown to a phenomenal size. The use of containers in shipping has revolutionised the global economy perhaps just as much as the internet. Ports have an indirect effect on all our lives, every day of the year.

Welcome to discover the colourful journey of four harbours through centuries!

Star of Africa - stories behind the game board
3 September 2010-2 January 2011

In 1951, a Finnish student named Kari Mannerla, 19 years old at the time, invented the game Afrikan Tähti (The Star of Africa), which became a classic and remains the best-selling Finnish board game of all time. Several generations of Finns have gained their first impression of Africa from the game board: players remember the shape of the continent and exotic place names such as Tangiers, Cairo, Dar es Salaam, and so on.

The exhibition takes a deeper look at the game and the facts behind it. It is a journey in time and space, following the familiar pathways on the game board and making twelve stops. These feature the ancient history of Mali, the source of the Nile, diamond mines and many other interesting topics.

The exhibition is produced by the Helinä Rautavaara Museum.

Christmas Exhibition
9 December 2010-13 January 2011