Sukanen Ship Museum in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Sukanen Ship Museum in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

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Moose Jaw is a small city in Saskatchewan. It has an odd name, and likewise, it has some unique history. I’ve been to Moose Jaw a couple of times to visit my family, and to see some of this quirky city. Since reading the hilarious book Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw by Will Ferguson I’d wanted to visit a particular place just outside Moose Jaw; the Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village & Museum.

The Pioneer Village & Museum

When my friend and I went on our winter road trip to Saskatoon, we visited the Western Development Museum. The museum actually has several different branches across Saskatchewan, including this one outside of Moose Jaw. The museum is an outdoor museum that shows what life was like on the prairies a hundred years ago. The museum contains several buildings, displays and artifacts showcasing what the prairies looked like in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It even has the homestead of former (and Saskatchewan-born) Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

Building at the Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village & Museum outside of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Inside the Diefenbaker homestead, the childhood home of former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
What a dentist’s office used to look like. I’m glad dentist offices are not like this now.

Tom Sukanen

The real reason I wanted to visit this museum was to see the large ocean-ready ship (the Sontiainen) that sits outside the museum. The ship was built by Thomas Sukanen, who was born in Finland (as Tomi Jaanus Alankola) in 1878. Tom originally immigrated to the United States as a young man, settling in Minnesota. He got married and had some kids. Then, at one point, he decided to walk across the border to Canada to find his brother, who was living in Saskatchewan. He started a homestead outside of Macrorie, Saskatchewan. After seven years of homesteading the land, he went back to Minnesota to bring his wife and children with him to Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, by that time, his wife had died, and his children had been placed in foster care. He tried to bring one of his sons back with him to Canada, but his son was turned away.

Tom Sukanen was also an inventor. He made this foot-powered vehicle by hand.

Sailing From Canada to Finland?

In 1929 Tom Sukanen went back to Finland for a visit, and then returned to Canada. At some point, he decided he would build a giant ship to sail from landlocked southern Saskatchewan to Finland. This idea might sound crazy (and it probably was), considering the nearest ocean is some 1100km away, but remember rivers do lead to oceans. I suppose Tom Sukanen could have looked at a map and thought it would be possible to sail on the South Saskatchewan River up to the Hudson Bay, and then out into the Atlantic Ocean, heading to the North Sea and then to the Baltic Sea by Finland.

The Sontiainen. This was the ship Tom Sukanen built to sail from Canada to Finland.

The Ship

I love road trips and those “world’s largest” roadside attractions, but this ship isn’t an oversized mammoth. It is, however; quite large when you learn that Tom Sukanen built the entire structure on his own. There were no prefabricated ship parts or even tools. Most of the tools that Tom Sukanen used he made himself. Tom Sukanen spent 6 years building this ship, but unfortunately, it never sailed. Part of the plan was to move the ship 17 miles to the nearest river, but he was never able to get help from his neighbours to move it. Then one night as Tom Sukanen was sleeping in one of the cabins, thieves stole the metal from the keel and hull.

A front view of the Sontiainen ship, with the flags of Saskatchewan and Finland.

The Ending

The story doesn’t end well for Tom Sukanen. He was broke and eventually taken away to an institutionalized hospital where he died in 1943. Ironically the year he died the rivers flooded, and it would have been possible for the Sontiainen to sail up to the Hudson Bay. The ship itself had a happier ending when several people tried to restore the ship to its former glory. Eventually, Laurence Mullins did just that, some 29 years later. The Sontiainen was moved outside of Moose Jaw where it sits at the Pioneer Village today. The remains of Tom Sukanen were also moved, to be buried beside the ship he built.

There is something intriguing about the hard work and the tenacity of doing something so crazy and out there like building a ship to sail from the Canadian prairies to another country. Was Tom Sukanen crazy? A misunderstood dreamer? Something else completely? The story of Tom Sukanen is strange and sad, but it’s one I  loved learning about while I was in Moose Jaw. If you’re ever in south-central Saskatchewan take a trip out to Moose Jaw to see this ship and learn about Tom Sukanen for yourself.


Things To Know
The Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village & Museum is open seasonally from May to October. Hours are from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 pm on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults. $7 for seniors and students and $5 for kids 6 to 15. The Museum is located 13km south of Moose Jaw on Highway 2. Here is a map of the area.
While I stayed with my family during my visit to Moose Jaw, there are plenty of great hotels you can book here. A popular option is the Temple Gardens Hotel and Spa.


Have you been to Moose Jaw?

9 thoughts on “Sukanen Ship Museum in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan”

  1. I haven’t been to Moose Jaw but I’ve heared many discussed and argue Tom’s decision. In fact, each time I bring up an unrealistic idea,bmy friends are quick to narrate the story of Tom: the man with the big dream (Now I’m feeling homesick with memories of Canada). I find his actions unreasonable too but who knows, if, if he might just have accomplished his dreams and he would be praised globally?

  2. Wow, we’ve never heard this story or of Moose Jaw but it seems like an intriguing place to visit. The story is inspirational because though there are hundreds of Tom’s that fail in their bigger than life dreams, there are some who do make it to our history books and become and inspiration for so many more.

  3. I’ve never been to Moose Jaw (what a great name!), and neither to Saskatchewan. This story of Tom and his family is so tragic, but at least his legacy lives on somewhat through this museum! I agree with you, I’m scared of dentists, so super happy they look different today!

  4. Wow – very interesting read. I totally agree, this story is sad, but I am also glad I got to know it as well. Theres always something to learn from history or other people experiences. Thank you for sharing! Loved it. All bests, – Mariella

  5. I’m glad that I came across this post and discover a nice museum! I haven’t heard about the story, but interesting to discover more. I will visit this museum when I get to Canada!

  6. I’ve never heard of any of this but it’s so interesting! It’s weird how something can seem so crazy to others but one person can really believe it and have faith in it. Can’t believe the year he died it might have been possible! It’s like some kind of weird fate.

  7. What a great piece of history! It doesn’t sound like Tom Sukanen led a charmed life but he definitely had perseverance. Kind of ironic that the boat didn’t get to go out and explore, but plenty of explorers have been able to come see it…

  8. I have never read anything on the province of Saskatchewan before so it’s interesting to see what there is! It’s interesting to learn how people lived there years ago. The irony of the floods coming the year Tom Sukanen died is incredible.

  9. Moose Jaw sure is an interesting name for a town. But it seems to be rather appropriate as it has some unusual attractions. It’s unfortunate for Tom Sukanen but at least he left a legacy for a charming part of Canada. I agree with James though, the irony can’t be understated.

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