Tønsberg Sjømannsforening (Seamen's Association) and Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) are based in Tollboden at Tollbodbryggen. Tønsberg Maritime History Center shows the town's proud maritime and whaling history, and is open from May to August. They offer tours for groups by appointment.
Come and see the film Whaling life at the Pelagos!
Tønsberg Maritime History Center
On Tollboden's 1st floor, we find a maritime exhibition split into one maritime and one whaling section, divided into the shipping town, the maritime town, the harbour town and the whaling town. Here, seafaring and whaling are richly illustrated through beautiful models, pictures, text boards and effects. It is equipped with several monitors that show life at sea and whaling. One of the monitors also shows text and images about the city's shipping companies and their vessels.
This is a historical center well worth visiting!
The former Tønsberg Seamen's Museum had its first premises in the seamen's school at Haugar, where the Haugar Vestfold Culture Museum is located today. Eventually, the seaman's school needed the premises itself, and the collection was handed over to the Vestfold County Museum. Tønsberg Seamen's Association bought the old Tollboden on 1 July 2005, and over the next two years the Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) with its own museum was realised. Extensive work, a lot of it with the help of volunteers, resulted in 4 great meeting and social gathering rooms, a kitchen, boardroom, office and lift. The ceremonial opening of the Tønsberg Historical Center on the 1st floor was conducted by shipowner Morten Wilh. Wilhelmsen on the 22nd of May, 2007.