Polar Odyssey

Polar Odyssey is a maritime museum in Petrozavodsk dedicated to seafaring history on Lake Onega. The collection includes wooden boats, navigation instruments, and everyday objects from different periods of Russian water transport.

The museum started in 1978 when an engineer established a private shipyard in the Soviet Union, an unusual undertaking at that time. The yard constructed numerous boats before eventually becoming a museum dedicated to preserving maritime knowledge.

The museum displays how people built and used wooden boats on Lake Onega as part of their daily life and trade. The exhibited vessels and tools show a craft tradition that connected communities across the water.

The museum is accessible by foot or public transport, with an open layout that is easy to explore at your own pace. Hours vary by season, so it helps to check before your visit to plan accordingly.

The museum offers sailing trips on Lake Onega where visitors can experience traveling in reconstructed historical boats firsthand. This hands-on experience gives a different sense of how sailors once navigated these waters.

Location: Petrozavodsk Urban Okrug

Inception: 1978

Website: http://polar-odyssey.org

GPS coordinates: 61.78032,34.41506

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45