Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour is one of the most impressive cultural sites in Tallinn and all of Estonia, located in the seaside Noblessner district. This museum is a world-famous architectural achievement not only for the objects it contains, but also for the building itself.
The history of the hangar dates back to the times before World War I, when Russian Tsar Nicholas II ordered the construction of the Peter the Great Sea Fortress System to protect Tallinn. The hangar was built between 1916 and 1917 and was technologically far ahead of its time. It was the world’s first reinforced concrete shell structure to cover such a large area without internal supporting columns.
Between the two world wars, the Estonian Air Force used the base to store seaplanes, then during the Soviet occupation, the army took over and operated as a closed military area for decades. The building had deteriorated significantly over time, but was saved in the early 2010s through a large-scale and extremely complex renovation, and in 2012 it opened its doors as the home of the modern Estonian Maritime Museum.
The museum’s interior presents marine life on three levels: the underwater world, the water surface and the air. The objects suspended under the huge domes and the spectacular lighting create a special atmosphere.
The Lembit submarine is the absolute star of the exhibition. The Lembit was built in Great Britain in the 1930s for the Estonian Navy. What makes it special is that it has remained almost in its original condition to this day, and visitors can go inside the cramped interior to see how sailors lived and worked in the depths.
In the hangar, you can see a life-size replica of the British Short 184, the first seaplane in history to successfully carry out a torpedo attack.
The Maasilinn is one of the oldest shipwrecks found in Estonia, dating back to the 16th century. The wooden remains provide a glimpse into medieval shipbuilding techniques.
Outside the museum building, a whole fleet of ships is anchored on the waterfront. For example, the Suur Töll, one of Europe’s largest steam-powered icebreakers, can also be boarded to explore its huge engine room and officers’ mess rooms.
