The premises cover approximately four hectares of a former sea fortress and prison, located on the shore of Tallinn Bay.

In 1864, Tallinn was removed from Russian Empire’s list of fortresses due to Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War, and the fort was converted into barracks.

[2] In 2018, the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory launched preparations to establish a museum of crimes of communism and an accompanying international research centre in Tallinn.

[3] In 1919, the fort replaced Tallinn’s previous jails in Toompea Castle and the Fat Margaret artillery tower, which had been damaged in fires during the revolutions of 1917.

[5][6] In 1925 and 1926, separate sections were built on the second storey of the main building to host the increasing number of imprisoned communists, following the Trial of the 149 (November 1924) and the attempt to overthrow the government after 1 December 1924.

To save public money, the prisoners had to earn their upkeep in a sewing workshop, print shop, bindery and other facilities located within the complex.

[7] As an indication of domestic peace and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Estonia, the newly elected Estonian President Konstantin Päts announced a political amnesty in 1938.

[9] In addition to 36 spies for the Soviet Union, the last three communists arrested for participating in the attempted coup of 1 December 1924 (Aleksander Mui, Kristjan Seaver and Alfred Sein) were released.

[12] Under the management of the new director and after Estonia was declared a Soviet Socialist Republic in July 1940, the convictions of persons held in all penal institutions were reviewed.

[14] After a war broke out between the Soviet Union and Germany, the number of arrested persons started growing quickly in June and July 1941.

All local penal institutions (including Patarei) and police authorities went under the control of the new occupying regime and the German Security Service (the SD).

[5] The number of people arrested on political charges was so high during the first months of the German occupation that in addition to existing prisons, temporary concentration camps (largest ones being Jägala, Klooga[17] and Vaivara) were set up by the orders of Wehrmacht units.

Patarei Prison remained the central penal institution in the SD system throughout the entire German occupation.

Due to lack of space, convicted offenders were soon transported to forced labour camps in the inner territory of the Soviet Union.

Persons held in custody were taken to the Internal Prison of the Ministry of State Security on Pagari Street for interrogations.

[28] The site was subsequently operated under a public- private partnership as 'Culture Park', a venue for music and arts events, with the main building complex largely untouched.

The principal proposals were a museum complex, a cultural and leisure centre, a hotel with a yacht harbour, offices and apartments.