Sinimägede (Blue Hills) Museum in Vaivara Museum

Time travel on Sinimägi
 Roheline 19D, Vaivara, Vaivara vald, Estonia, Ida-Virumaa
 +372 5647 4552, +372 392 4634

This museum is located in the renovated barn of Vaivara Manor in the small borough of Sinimäe.

Its exhibition showcases the World War II battle of the Narva River and the Blue Hills in 1944. It displays firearms, uniforms, soldiers' personal belongings, wartime photographs, propaganda posters from both sides and more. A big screen shows historical films and documentaries. Despite the topic of war being difficult for some, the exhibition is intended for all ages: while parents can concentrate on the history and the details, the children can interact with the items on display. Historical battlefronts (the 3rd defensive line of St Petersburg and the German East Wall defensive line known as the Tannenberg Line) can be found near the museum.

Used sources and references:

https://muuseum.vaivaravald.ee/

Educational programs

Don't touch the bomb!

Children watch the film "Don't touch the bomb", they can see and touch things found in the Blue Mountains. Worksheets/drawing sheets are filled in at the end of the lesson. The program is in cooperation with the rescue agency.

World War II in Estonia

Warring parties of World War II, what was the weaponry, uniforms.
Estonians in the Rifle Corps and German military units, what were the choices and were they voluntary choices.
1944 German retreat battles in Estonian territory, situations in which there were Estonians on both sides of the front.
How is it known and found today who is buried in mass graves.
Introduction of weapons and uniforms, including the armament of which army the weapon was a part of and what were the characteristic distinguishing marks of the armies.
Excursion to Põrguaugumäe (memorial to those who fell in World War II) and Parkimäe (the Vaivara manor was located on the mountain and there are bunkers from World War I).
Watching the movie "1944" if desired.

The museum is coming to visit. Military uniforms and weaponry

Students will learn about the Second World War on the territory of Estonia. Get acquainted with the uniforms and weapons of the German and Soviet armies. If desired, there is an opportunity to try on clothes.

Terrain that influenced military action

The study program consists of 2 main parts:

Hike in the Sinimägedel - provides an overview of the peculiarities of the landscape, the history of its formation, geographical and geological features, vegetation and introduces the places related to II ms.
Practical task – reading maps of different times, positioning and analysis of landscape changes.

A war game

Students receive mobilization invitations. In the course of the program, you will learn how an Estonian got into the army and what uniforms he wore; what were the weapons that were used at the time. Living conditions during the war, including the distribution of food stamps.
Organizing an air alarm, the subject of the March bombing of Narva.
Providing first aid.
How trenches were dug and when they are useful.
Excursion to Pargimäe (the Vaivara manor was located on the hill, there are bunkers from the First World War).
Watching the movie "1944" if desired.

Time travel 1944

The Vaivara Sinimägede Museum invites you to take part in a time travel, where the 1944 escape from the Narva region is relived. Before the adventure takes place, the participants are sent a scenario via e-mail, which describes the evacuation and offers roles according to the participants. This gives you the opportunity to make choices about what to take with you, what to wear and what the menu for the picnic at the end of the trip could be. Also, the pre-sent scenario helps to give the participants some hints to observe certain details during the adventure, so that the journey is as real as possible. But creativity is also always welcome and often makes the adventure even more memorable and enjoyable.

Time travel is suitable for both adult groups of friends and families with children. It is very different from other similar adventures and provides a good opportunity to discuss modern refugee issues later.
In such an undertaking, it is not possible for each journey to proceed in the same way as all the previous ones. The adventurers themselves play a very important role in this adventure. It all depends on the participants. Therefore, the adventure is completely unique and creates new emotions for everyone, including those who have already gone through it before.
The instructors conducting the time travel are specialists in their field who have carefully thought out the entire scenario. So you can be sure that the service you experience will be first class.
Pre-booking is required to consume the adventure, and the journey begins at the Vaivara Sinimägede Museum.

Stories of things

During the program, students will learn about the stories of the museum's exhibits: what and what the soldiers ate, where the documents were kept, what the soldiers' uniform should be and what they carried. You can touch and try the exhibits (helmets, hats, weapons). They talk about why we keep things in a museum.

Terrain game

During the program, students learn how to read a map, what the symbols and colors on the map mean. Using the map, students find checkpoints and solve the corresponding tasks. The terrain game goes through the most interesting places of Sinimäe settlement, such as Sinimäe elementary school, World War I bunkers and Pargimägi. A visit to the museum will also take place during the game.