Käsmu Lighthouse complex joins Estonian Maritime Museum
Estonia's government has approved transferring the historic Käsmu Lighthouse complex to the Estonian Maritime Museum, aiming to strengthen museum operations in the coastal village.
The Estonian government approved a Ministry of Culture proposal on Thursday to transfer state-owned property at Merekooli 1 in the coastal village of Käsmu, Lääne County, to the Estonian Maritime Museum (EMM). The complex includes the former Käsmu border guard station, the Käsmu Lighthouse and its outbuildings.
Culture Minister Heidy Purga (Reform) said the change in ownership should help foster closer cooperation between EMM and the local Käsmu Maritime Museum. She also expressed hope that the Käsmu community would take even more pride in its historic role as a "captains' village," both in Estonia's maritime history and today.
Future plans
The transfer is intended to ensure that professional museum activity continues in Käsmu. EMM director Urmas Dresen said the museum plans to support the development of the local maritime museum by digitizing its collections and contributing to its permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Dresen added that there is potential to expand the outdoor exhibition in the future and to renovate the valuable Käsmu Lighthouse.
The Käsmu Maritime Museum has operated in the former border guard station building since 1993. In 2012, the Käsmu museum, then operating as a nonprofit, signed a cooperation agreement with EMM focused on developing Estonia's maritime culture.
