Standing 12.5 metres high, the round stone tower of Arholma remains a testament to historical ingenuity. Petter Ridderstad completed this construction in 1768 to serve as one of three primary landmarks for ships entering the northern Stockholm archipelago. While the structures on Högskär and Simpnäsklubb were designed as square towers, this specific edifice features a distinct rounded shape and a tower roof.
During the 1800s, the tower acted as a station for an optical telegraph line linking Stockholm with Gävle and Åland. It functioned as a pilot lookout until 1875, when the work moved further out into the shipping lane due to the motorization of maritime traffic. During the preparedness years of the war, a command center was located in the mountain directly beneath the tower.
Today, this state-protected historic building is open to visitors during the summer months. Nearby, the 2007 boathouse and Båkstugan invite us to investigate the lives of the local pilots who once inhabited and worked this rugged landscape. Adjacent to Båkstugan stands a new boathouse built in 2007 for one of the island's old sailing pilot boats.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.