Research

• From Bridle Paths to Iron Steeds: Studies on Roads and Mobility in the Age of Horse Transport

Proceedings of the Estonian Road Museum III

The third volume in the Proceedings series of the Estonian Road Museum has been published.
Through the texts contributed by researchers and scholars, this collection provides insights into roads, communication, mobility, and draught animals from the beginning of recorded history up to the early 20th century.
In Estonia, transport relied on horse power until the mid-20th century, which is why this period is often referred to as the “age of horse transport.” The importance of horses in Estonian transportation declined gradually over a long period. Although railway transport brought a major shift in mobility and freight during the 19th century, and by a century ago it was already clear that the future belonged to automobiles, the number of horses continued to grow.
For this reason, the development trends of horse-based transport may offer fascinating perspectives and parallels for today, as we once again face major transformations in transport technology.

Table of Contents

• Winter Roads of Centuries-Old Nationwide Importance – Valdo Praust
• The Journeys of Wilhelm of Modena in Estonia – Tõnu Raid
• The Telex Letters of the Teutonic Order in 15th–16th Century Livonia – Juhan Kreem
• Early Road Maps in Europe and Livonia – Tõnu Raid
• Estonia’s Historic Inns and Post Stations: An Overview of Surviving Architectural Heritage – Sille Raidvere
• Travel Organisation in Russia and the Baltic Provinces Based on the Accounts of Johann Bernoulli (1778) and Augustus Bozzi Granville (1827) – Marge Rennit
• “Maitsi and Railways”: Travelling in the Baltic Provinces in the 19th and Early 20th Century Through Baltic German Memoirs – Reet Bender
• Reflections on Researching Horse Transport in Estonia – Riho Paramonov
• Compassion for Animals: The Tallinn Animal Protection Society and Horse Transport in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century – Karl Hein
• Horses and Veterinary Service in the Estonian Army During the War of Independence (1918–1920) – Kardi Talvik
• Labour Obligations in Kind: A Long Feudal Era on Estonian Roads – Tambet Muide
• ​​​​​​​A Journey from St Petersburg to Tallinn (1814) – John Quincy Adams

Multifaceted Public Transport

Proceedings of the Estonian Road Museum II

The second volume of the Proceedings series has been published.
This collection focuses on the formation and transformation of public transport in Estonia from the 19th century to the present day. It explores how railways shaped the modernising world of speed and perception, and how bus transport emerged alongside rail during the 20th century, eventually becoming an even more significant mode of mobility.
The volume examines the growing use of bus transport, its relationship with motorisation, and the changing role of public transport in the context of sustainable development and new mobility solutions.
Public transport is also approached as a political, social, and cultural phenomenon — a public space reflecting social relations, identities, and values. Through perspectives from researchers across different disciplines, the collection offers a multidimensional insight into the role of public transport in Estonian society.

Table of Contents

• Public Transport as Public Space in the Humanities – Tauri Tuvikene
• The Artist On Board: Public Art Projects in Trams – Aleksandra Jantšenko
• European Railways in Friedebert Tuglas’s Youth Memoirs (1905–1917) – Elle-Mari Talivee
• The Development of Bus Transport in Tallinn During Modernisation – Riho Paramonov
• The History of Suburban and Long-Distance Bus Routes Departing from Tallinn (1922–1990) – Aare Olander
• The Early Decades of Rural Bus Lines in Estonia (1922–1940): General Development Trends – Andres Seene
• Bus Manufacturing in Tartu and the TA-6 Bus – Tarvo Puusepp

Studies in the History of Mobility and Transport

Proceedings of the Estonian Road Museum I

The first volume of the Proceedings series marks the museum’s transition from annual yearbooks to a new format that maintains the continuity of previous publications while allowing for greater thematic flexibility and diversity.
This collection brings together six articles addressing key issues in Estonian transport and mobility history, mainly from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
The focus is on the decline of horse-powered transport, the rise of bicycles and automobiles, the impact of motorisation on urban space, and the role of the state in shaping transport and infrastructure.
The articles draw on both the museum’s own research and broader academic collaboration, and are closely connected to the development of the museum’s Machine Hall and the exhibition “Machine Hall – The Reign of Machines.”
The volume highlights the importance of transport history in understanding Estonia’s societal development and provides a basis for further research.

Table of Contents

• Introduction – Andres Seene
• Cycling Societies in Estonia 1888–1918 – Tambet Muide
• A Comparative Study of Coachmen’s Activities in Europe and Estonia – Riho Paramonov
• The Development of Taxi Services in Estonia in an International Context – Riho Paramonov
• The Road Administration’s Attempt to Protect Roads: The Story of the Model Peasant Wagon – Annika Kupits
• How to Govern Motor Transport? Regulation Challenges in the 1920s–1930s – Andres Seene
• Motor Freight Transport in Soviet Estonia Through the Example of Jõgeva Motor Depot (1952–1991) – Jens Raevald