The institution "Göteborgs sjömanshus" (the Seamen´s house) was grounded in 1748 as a social service for sailors. The sailor paid a small percent out of his salary to a pay office, a trusteeship that gave pension to sailors and their families based on needs.
Gradually they started giving educations in navigation, searching for lost or runaway sailors all over the world and providing health control for sailors.

The house was built by captain Ribbing in 1831 and was initially used as a private recidence.
In 1854 the building was bought by the "Göteborgs sjömanshus" and became an important institution for the shipping trade in Göteborg. Sailors came here each time they went on or off a ship.
At a reconstruction in 1919 the house got its present look with the tower in the middle.

In 1964 the institution left the building. The house was for quite some time threatened with demolition and many different kind of tenants lodged here.
In 1996 it was totally renovated by KIGAB to become the Hostelling International Stigbergsliden of today.

The hostel was inaugurated the 23rd of May, 1996.