Eckerö post- och tullhus - Eckerö, Aland Islands
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Walking Boots
N 60° 13.211 E 019° 32.665
34V E 419355 N 6676822
Eckerö Post- and Tollhouse was opened in 1828 during the reign of Tsar Nikolai I, when the Aland Islands were under Russian rule.
Waymark Code: WM18MET
Location: Åland Islands
Date Posted: 08/23/2023
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member FamilieFrohne
Views: 7

Property designation: 43-406-38-1
Property: Post and customs house incl. wing buildings and farm environment
Decision ÅLR 2017/9320
Protected date 07.08.2018
Scope of protection: The main building and wing buildings, exterior and interior, as well as the farm environment. (visit link)



Eckerö Post- och tullhus was opened in 1828 during the reign of Tsar Nikolai I, when the Aland Islands were under Russian rule.

The post office replaced an earlier postal route from Sweden to Finland. The postal route was established in 1658 and took place by boat from Grisslehamn in Sweden to Storby on the Aland Islands. The post was then transported by horse-drawn carriage on the postal route across the Aland Islands and again sailed on to Gustav's parish on the Finnish mainland. In fact, this post route is marked in several places on the island with red poles.

The building, which is very pompous, was designed by the architect Carl Ludvig Engel and is one of the best preserved empire buildings in Finland.
The building is inside divided by a wall, one part of which was the customs building and the other part was the post office. In addition to serving as offices, the building also housed 2 apartments, one for both the postmaster and the customs officer.

On the Aland Islands, the town of Mariehamn was established in 1861 and a steamship route now sailed between Stockholm in Sweden, via Mariehamn and to Turku in Finland. As a result, the post was sent this way and the activities at the post office in Eckerö dropped considerably. The postal service's head office was moved to Mariehamn in 1875 and that function in Eckerö ceased completely. The last postal operator lived in the residence from 1899 to 1935.

However, the post and customs building has been the subject of many events over time.
Both in 1834 and in 1848, part of the building was used as a quarantine hospital for cholera patients.
From 1882 to 1900 there was also a telegraph station in the building.
During the First World War, stationed Russian soldiers had accommodation in the Eckerö Post & Customs building for shorter periods. In 1918, the buildings were besieged by German soldiers.
During the Second World War, Finnish soldiers were quartered to protect the Aland Islands from invasion.
In the late 1950s, the buildings were renovated and converted for use as a summer house for postal and customs employees.
A cafe and pottery workshop/shop were added in the north wing during the 1980s.

The buildings was listed 07.08.2018. It is protected according to the highest conservation protection that a building can get on the Aland Islands.

The buildings now function as a museum and exhibition of local art. There are many boards about previous use, as well as various items from both the postal department and the customs department.
An exciting exhibition which you complement by visiting the premises where local art is exhibited and sold.

When it was built, with its size and construction style, it was the most impressive building on the Aland Islands. And you are still impressed when you see the beautiful building.


Source: (visit link)

Cultural heritage on Aland: (Access to map with cultural heritage on Aland..zoom in on the location and read information)
(visit link)
Official database entry: [Web Link]

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nokipimi visited Eckerö post- och tullhus - Eckerö, Aland Islands 08/01/2024 nokipimi visited it