Digital and Audiovisual Solutions in Fat Margaret’s Permanent Exhibition “Towering Tales of the Sea”
In November 2019, the Estonian Maritime Museum unveiled its second permanent exhibition at Fat Margaret, a medieval cannon tower in the UNESCO-protected Tallinn Old Town. This renovated historical setting is the backdrop for recounting Estonia’s maritime history from the Middle Ages to now.
The exhibition spans various eras, focusing on shipbuilding, trade, and seafaring lifestyles, encompassing sailing, steam, and motor ships. It incorporates over 30 digital solutions, including real-time data visualizations, interactive experiences, and historically researched displays.
These features highlight aspects such as the Hanseatic League trade, Sound Dues commerce from the 17th to 19th centuries, the impact of steamships on Estonian trade, real-time sea traffic mapping, and a family-friendly trade scale that measures your weight in medieval goods. Visitors can also enjoy a unique steamship engine room sound experience and even fulfil their dream of singing sea shanties in a karaoke room.
The Exhibition
From 2016 to 2019, the Estonian Maritime Museum developed an innovative and comprehensive digital exhibition at Fat Margaret, a historic cannon tower in Tallinn’s UNESCO-protected Old Town. The museum aimed to enhance the visitor experience by using digital elements that engaged and informed.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- A 700-year-old cog wreck, displayed with interactive digital content detailing its discovery, excavation, and history.
- A map illustrating medieval trade routes within the Hanseatic League.
- Visualization of Danish Sound Toll Registers from the 15th-19th centuries, offering insights into historic trade.
- Interactive displays explaining changes in ship engines and navigation.
- Audio and video stories, including first-hand accounts of seafaring experiences.
- Exploration of Baltic Germans’ contributions and discoveries in the 19th century.
- A collection of vintage commercial posters and a steamship travel planner.
- Information on lighthouses and an interactive DJ set for creating 19th-century-inspired music.
- Recordings of modern ship navigation and onboard entertainment.
- Multilingual accessibility and accommodations for visitors with special needs.
The exhibition aims to showcase Estonia’s maritime heritage and history, bridging the gap created by the Soviet Occupation and providing valuable knowledge to locals and tourists.