Naisaare Island – one of the most secret sites of the Soviet era

The so-called “American Battery” with 9.2-inch guns is located at the western end of the island, about 200 m from the shore. It was originally intended for 130 mm guns, but was later equipped with guns supplied from the United States. They were operated by electricity, ammunition was delivered by elevators. The command post was combined with a power plant and ammunition storage. In 1918, three positions were blown up, but one remained intact.

Naisaare Island was home to one of the largest Soviet naval mine storage and assembly complexes in the Baltics during the Soviet era. It was built in 1950–1956 to quickly mine the western part of the Gulf of Finland if necessary, and the territory was a closed military zone for civilians. Naval mines were assembled, repaired, stored and transported there via the island's narrow-gauge railway to the port.

The Naissaar Military Museum is located on Naissaar, in a former Soviet-era overtime housing complex. The museum introduces the island's fascinating and multi-layered military history - from sea forts and coastal defense facilities to the Soviet period, when the island was a closed military area.

Naissaar has been an important part of the defense system of Tallinn and the Gulf of Finland due to its location. The peaceful nature of the island still hides traces of the time when fortifications, military installations and infrastructure of the Soviet army were located here. The museum helps to understand how the military presence influenced both the development of the island and the lives of the local people.

The exhibition provides an overview of the history of the emergence and development of sea fortresses, the role of Naissaar in the defense systems of different eras, and the life of the island's inhabitants during difficult times. You can see shell fragments, weaponry details, photographs, and other items that bring the island's military heritage closer to the visitor. A separate part of the exhibition is dedicated to the equipment of a Soviet army soldier and propaganda publications, which give an eloquent picture of the era.

The museum is well suited for those who want to discover Naissaar not only as an island of natural beauty, but also as a place where Estonian coastal defense, military history, and Soviet heritage have left visible traces in the landscape.

The museum can be visited by groups during the summer season by prior arrangement. Individual tickets are available at the café near the museum.