pilot tower

The history of the pilot station in Old Oxelösund is a story of constant development. From the very earliest days when a simple, tall ladder served as a lookout, to the sturdy wooden tower that later took its place. In the 1920s, the operation was further modernized with a concrete tower, but when technology outpaced the physical need for a lookout post – and telephone lines were extended to Hävringe – the tower became redundant and was eventually demolished.

Today, old photographs are preserved in The pilot archive that show exactly what the pilots saw from their high post. In the pictures, you can see how the pilots' houses in Sandviken were nestled in greenery, and where the modern harbor spreads out today, there once stood a dense forest.

It is precisely this view that is at the core of the association's dream. A new observation tower would not only become a destination for day trips but a way for both Oxelösund residents and visitors to understand the city's transformation. By standing in the same place as the pilots did a hundred years ago, one can with their own eyes compare the old images with today's industrial landscape.

The vision is about more than just a beautiful view. It is about giving Old Oxelösund a new heart that celebrates the maritime cultural heritage. By building the tower on the old foundation, a physical link to history is created.

While the historic houses in Sandviken and the popular Cultural Path already attract many, a tower would be the icing on the cake – a place where one can look back in time while simultaneously gazing out over the horizon that has shaped Oxelösund's identity as a maritime city.

Rolf Blomdahl