World Heritage Grimeton was inaugurated on 2 July 1925 and celebrates 100th Anniversary.Grimeton Radio Station celebrates 100 years with a 13-month packed celebration, and on Wednesday, July 2. Exactly 100 years after the King of Swedens inauguration and telegram to the radiostation on Long Island, New York. Since 2024 it is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and now the Director-general Audrey Azoulay has formulated a jubilee morse telegram that will reach the world via the old long wave antenna.
The day is full of activities for both young and old. Music, technology, speakers, and an Open Stage. Code hunting, radio amateurs in action, and as the crowning glory – twice the 100-year-old in the Transmitter Hall is started and sends messages via the longwave antenna formulated by none other than UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay in the morning and by students from Almers School in Varberg in the afternoon.
– It feels fantastic that we have two such fine telegram writers on the Anniversary Day, says Camilla Lugnet, CEO of the World Heritage Grimeton Foundation. UNESCO, which designated Grimeton Radio Station as a World Heritage site 20 years ago. And then the students at Almers School in Varberg who, as part of their English lessons, together formulated their message of peace to the world. In addition, two students and a teacher will be present in the Transmitter Hall when it will be transmitted.
– We expect many people to come to the World Heritage Grimeton on the Anniversary Day – not least for the Transmitter Starts where foreign visitors from the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland have already bought tickets when they were released earlier this year, says Lena Bager, project manager for the 100th anniversary. In total, there are 300 people attending the sold-out transmitter starts, and as the program is multifaceted, we hope that both young and old will come to celebrate and enjoy themselves all day.
Many are involved in creating the jubilee
Just as when King Gustaf V inaugurated the radio station and was greeted by the local children with choral singing on July 2, 1925, four children’s choirs, named the Radio Waves for the occasion, will sing for the 100-year-old.
The Alexander Association, which starts the Alexanderson transmitter in the beautiful Transmitter Hall, also welcomes interested visitors who want to learn about telephony, telegraphy, and nostalgia.
Reopening of the World Heritage Visitor Center
After extensive renovation and expansion of the World Heritage Visitor Center, it reopens this day with “Matsalen” restaurant, a welcoming entrance and shop, as well as the final remaining part of the exhibition that has been developed in recent years.
The entire 13-month long jubilee celebration includes a variety of events in collaboration with over 100 actors who want to be part of creating the celebration.
– Celebrating through collaboration and participation is in line with the strategy for sustainable site development that the managers agreed on just over a year ago, says Camilla Lugnet. The response we’ve received has been incredible.
The full jubilee program can be found at Anniversary Day Grimeton Radio Station 100 years Wednesday July 2, 2025 | Grimeton
Världsarvet Grimeton - Sändarsalen
Camilla Lugnet, VD Världsarvet Grimeton
World Heritage Grimeton – one of the six towers in the longwave antenna. The facility was officially inaugurated in 1925 and is now celebrating 100 years.
SAQ sends telegrams to the world on 17.2 kHz
Transmitter start takes place at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM (be in the Transmitter Hall at 10:20 AM and 2:20 PM respectively). 100 tickets per occasion and ticket purchase via the website is required – Sold out but press contacts Lena Bager.
Visitors without tickets can follow the transmission at 11:00 AM live via Youtube on a big screen in the World Heritage Visitor Center
Welcome to contact jubilee project manager Lena Bager at 0768-08 89 25 or kommunikation@grimeton.org for a place at the Transmitter Starts or if you wish to get in touch with a specific person.
World Heritage Grimeton
A hundred years ago, everything changed. Suddenly, it was possible to communicate instantly with people far, far away. Then via a gigantic facility, equipped with swedish-amerinan engineer/inventor Ernst Alexanderson transmitters, produced by GE General Electrics and RCA, that sent Morse code. Now with smartphones and 5G.
Back then it was about love declarations and death notices. Today it’s about viral video clips and emojis with AI as a companion. The world’s last Alexanderson transmitter is at Grimeton Radio Station, Varberg. In 2004, the site was designated as a World Heritage site because this is the best place in the whole world to experience and understand the development of wireless communication. This unique place is important for all of humanity, and the future, so by together managing, using, and developing it, we contribute to a better and kinder world.
Alexandersonalternatorn, SAQ World Heritage Grimeton Radiostation still works and starts a few times a year.
Kaj Sundberg, Grimeton telegraphist is a member of och medlem i Association Alexander which carefully runs the start-ups of the unique SAQ Grimeton.
