The main emigration port

One day over a century ago, your ancestor stepped on a ship to leave Sweden. Hopefully it was a clear day with brisk winds. Most likely it happened in Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast.

About 80% of Swedish emigrants, or 1 million people, left the country from the ports in Gothenburg, between 1850 and 1910. The Swedish name is Göteborg, but Gothenburg has been the official name in German and English since its founding.

Gothenburg is now the second largest city in Sweden, filled with trams, with the main port of Scandinavia and industries like Volvo and SKF.

Central Gothenburg in 2018 with a peak of the town hall to the right. Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

At the time of the emigration, the port was in the city center, by the river Göta Älv that splits the city in two. As time went on, more piers and docks were built downstream. In our days, the port is on to the coast at the edge of the city. But if your ancestors left Sweden in the 19^th century, they did so from the piers near the town hall.

The founding of Gothenburg

From its founding, Gothenburg has been an international Swedish town. It was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus, called Gustav II Adolf in Sweden for trade and defense from the Danes.

What is now the city center was marshland. For this reason, Dutchmen were hired to build the city. That is why the old parts were built with a Dutch system of canals. The international focus was also evident in the international name Gothenburg. Among the most influential families are names like Dickson, Chalmers, and Röhss.

The emigrant’s journey

So let’s look at what the emigrants experienced before leaving their motherland.

Most emigrants arrived in Gothenburg at the central station, opened in 1858. A second train station, Bergslagsbanans station, was right next to it from 1881.

Gothenburg Central Station, built 1858. Right behind it from this angle was the other train station. The street leading to the port is behind the building to the left. Photographed 1898. Järnvägsmuseet PDM.

It was 800 meters, or half a mile, from the station to the port. The rails are on the right in the map and the pier is in the center. The sea is downstream the river to the west. This map of Gothenburg from 1872 is among the historical map provided online by the city.

This is where the migrants spent days or weeks waiting to leave. The street that led to the pier and the custom station had all the equipment that a migrant might need on the journey. There was also lodging and food available for the travelers while they waited for their ships to leave. This image is from Sillgatan/Postgatan (Herring Street/Post Street) in 1888, Göteborgs stadsmuseum, GMA:14389:32, PDM.

Tullhuset, the custom station, where all emigrants registered before leaving. Date and photographer unkown. From Sjöhistoriska museet, Fo200562, CC BY-SA.

Finally, the emigrants reached the ship. It left when enough people had arrived. The port Skeppsbron and Stora Bommen, at the large pier in the map above. Lithograph, probably by Ludvig Messman 1861. Göteborgs stadsmuseum, 0:1561, PDM.

View to the west of the old port of Gothenburg. The crane is at Skeppsbron on the left side of the river. Photographed circa 1875 by Staffan Sedenmalm. Göteborgs stadsmuseum, 0:2809, PDM.

Conclusion

Gothenburg was quite likely the last bit of Sweden that your ancestor saw. The old port Skeppsbron is at the very right in the photo below. Gothenburg has grown since the 19^th century. But the ferries to Denmark and Germany still in the city.

Gothenburg in 2019 by Edvin Johansson on Unsplash.