National Museum Of Lithuania


The National museum of Lithuania stores and houses all the relics and antiques of the yesteryears that depict the ancient culture and heritage of Lithuania. It is one of the oldest museums of the country and was established in the year 1855 due to the efforts made by the Count Eustache Tyszkiewicz. It is located in the same area that houses the castle of Gediminas. Around a year after its establishment, the National museum of Lithuania was opened to the public and became a part and parcel of the premises of the Vilnius University. However, it was closed in the year 1963 because of the rigid and strict policies of Russification. But, prior to that the collections from the National museum of Lithuania were transferred to N. Rumyantsev’s Museum in Moscow and remained a part of the Vilnius Public Library in the year 1865.

Though there were many efforts made in the direction to restore the National museum of Lithuania to its former glory, it was Dr. Jonas Basanavičius who in the year 1918 finally succeeded in establishing the Museum of History-Ethnography in the year 1918. But, two years later even this work stopped when Poland took over Vilnius. For the next two decades, the entire collection was stored at the Vilnius University and then in the 1941, they were shifted to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Finally, in the year 1952, the History of Ethnography Museum was established housing the very same collection.

Today, the National museum of Lithuania has over a thousand different exhibits. Some of the galleries present there are based on the numerous subjects and sciences like Iconography, Medieval and Modern Archaeology, History, Modern History, Archaeology and Numismatics. Over two hundred and fifty thousand visitors see the museum every year and the National museum of Lithuania also offers modern features like thematic and well-guided tours now. It is also responsible for creating a number of programs based on ancient history and knowledge that are purely educational in nature.

There are present at the National museum of Lithuania many exhibits that are also very well labeled and categorized excellently. There exists absolutely no language barrier in this particular building as all the exhibits also offer a very clear explanation using very well written and concise explanations in the English language. It has a floor dedicated to the time period from the birth of Christ to the formation of Lithuania.