Cannons at Kanonudden
Monitorholmen
- Overlooking Daglösen, two cannons stand from John Ericsson’s activity within the Swedish Navy.
In 1865, John Ericsson had sunk two large steel-bored cannons for the first monitor of the Swedish Navy. John Ericsson had previously provided drawings to the Swedish state free of charge. When this warship later received more modern armament, it was decided that the cannons should be handed over to Filipstad, and by the King’s decision on January 29, 1897, this request was granted. The condition was that they should be picked up from the navy yard in Karlskrona at no cost to the crown and placed on the promontory along the road to the cemetery. On renewed request, free transport on state railways to Kristinehamn was granted on January 29, 1898. The cannons were transported free of charge all the way to Filipstad’s East station, from where they were drawn by Finnshytte workers on specially made sleds to their place on a promontory at Daglösen’s shore in February 1900. - Welcome to Monitorholmen! John Ericsson’s sensational creation, the ironclad USS Monitor, defeated the Confederate Merrimac in the naval battle at Hampton Roads in 1862. This had a decisive impact on the course of the war. The end of the Civil War led, among other things, to the abolition of slavery throughout the USA. In 1873, three smaller islands were merged into Monitorholmen, which was shaped like the ironclad Monitor. The island is centrally located in the Skillerriver at Stora torget in Filipstad.
John Ericsson mausoleum
John Ericsson’s Farm in Långban
- According to his wish, John Ericsson was buried on Swedish soil. The mausoleum was inaugurated on July 31, 1895, six years after his death. The magnificent mausoleum is located in the Eastern cemetery in Filipstad. Born in Långban, Ericsson invented, among other things, the solar engine, the propeller, and the ironclad Monitor, which helped the Northern States win the American Civil War in the 1860s. According to his wish, John Ericsson was buried on Swedish soil in this magnificent mausoleum.
- Britta Sofia and Olof Ericsson became parents to one of Sweden’s most successful pairs of brothers. John Ericsson was born in 1803 at this farm in Långban. His older brother, Nils Ericson, became a prominent engineer who made significant contributions to the development of Swedish railways, most notably as the first director of the Swedish State Railways (SJ). A memorial stone to John Ericsson was unveiled in 1867 in front of the farm in Långban. The farm is located in Långbans Gruvby, which is open during the summer with exhibitions, activities, and more.