The Åland Museum in Mariehamn allows visitors to experience the history and ethnography of the islands. The permanent exhibitionis divided into 8 thematic parts: hunting and fishing, farming, society, people, sea, city, war, and autonomy.
The "Hunting and Fishing" hall will take you back to the Stone Age and Bronze Age, when thethe first humans arrived in the Åland Islands from the east of the Swedish coast about 6,000 years ago.from the east of the Swedish coast. And 1500 years later, a second wave of settlersbrought culture from the west of Norway. Traces of agriculture in the archipelago are found from the end of the Stone Age. From theViking Age more than 380 burials have survived. The farms were generallygenerally scattered throughout the islands, rather than gathered invillages. Aland's coastal climate is characterised by mild winters,early spring, warm summer and autumn. The calcareous soils and fertile Clay have favoured the development of agriculture.
The "Society" exhibit tells the story of how the old Scandinavian paganism was replaced by Christianity. Wooden churcheswere replaced by stone structures. Small chapels were erected for sailors along ancientalong the ancient trade routes, small chapels were built. Over the centuries, the institutionthe institution of the Church changed, but what remained constant was the great respect for the clergy.and strict discipline.
In the Middle Ages, Åland was a self-governing province,whose highest authority was the County Council in Saltwick.Ballads, ditties, dances, and lullabies were an integral part of the life of theof the people of Åland, performed in every home without exception.and passed down from generation to generation. It was also common to havelarge weddings, which were celebrated for 3-4 days. The mainmusical instrument of the local population was the violin. The accordionbecame popular only after World War I.
The sea has always played an important role in the life of the Alland Islands. Fishing and shipping are still the main trades for most Alanders.most of the Ålanders. Tourism in the archipelago has only developed since the late 19th century.the end of the 19th century, when the first spa was opened. However, due to thethe outbreak of the 1st World War, this type of tourism was irretrievably lost here.lost irretrievably.
World War 1 marked the beginning of autonomy in the Åland Islands.Local activists were in favour of annexing the archipelago to Sweden,However, in 1921 the League of Nations decided that the islands belonged to Finland.Finland, but gave the islands the right to broad autonomy, the protection of the Swedish language and demilitarisation.Swedish language and demilitarisation.Entrance to the museum is free between October and April, as well as onInternational Museum Day, 18 May, and on Autonomy Day, 9 June.
