Lithuanian National Movement, End 19^th–Beg. 20^th c. (Room 1)

The newspaper Vilniaus zinios (Eng. Vilnius News) was first published in 1904 and immediately drew a group of Lithuanian intellectuals, which later became a significant political force. The idea of the Lithuanian Assembly later to be named the Great Seimas of Vilnius belonged to the group. The Lithuanian Assembly was held on December 4-5, 1905. More than 2,000 representatives from entire Lithuania participated in the Assembly, i.e. certain self-governing districts sent several agents to Vilnius, and others sent only one delegate, whereas certain districts did not select any representatives at all as volunteers went to Vilnius. The main demand of the Great Seimas of Vilnius was the autonomy of Lithuania with the Seimas in Vilnius, the election of which “was to be universal, equal, direct and secret; all persons were to be granted suffrage without regard to sex, religion, or nationality.” This marked the beginning of the formation of an independent, democratic Lithuania.

Following the establishment of the Lithuanian Scientific Society and the Fine Arts Society in Vilnius cultural life became more active. The map of Lithuania published in 1906, the poster of the fine arts exhibition, the photographs of delegates of the Great Seimas of Vilnius and signatories of the Act of Independence Stanislovas Narutavicius and Saliamonas Banaitis revealing their activities are displayed.

Jonas Basanavicius Memorial Exposition (Room 2)

Jonas Basanavicius (1851–1927) was one of the founders and editors of the first Lithuanian newspaper for Lithuania Major Ausra (Eng. Dawn); the initiator and organiser of the Great Seimas of Vilnius; the incorporator and head of the Lithuanian Scientific Society (1907–1927); the initiator and editor of the publication Lietuviu tauta (Eng. Lithuanian Nation); the founder and member of the National Progress Party; the chairman of the Lithuanian Conference in Vilnius (1917); a researcher of Lithuanian archaeology, mythology, and ethnography; an anthropologist.

The following belongings of Jonas Basanavicius are displayed in the Memorial Room: the reception-room sign and briefcase of Jonas Basanavicius who spent 25 years working as a physician in Bulgaria, a sweater of the signatory, a pince-nez, a hat, a wallet, a carpet, the paintings and photographs depicting views of Bulgaria. Two travel trunks witness the journeys across Europe and the return to the motherland. Jonas Basanavicius used the first sound recording device in the world – the Edison phonograph – striving to record and preserve the Lithuanian folklore for future generations.

The greeting from President of the Republic of Lithuania Kazys Grinius and the souvenir from Lithuanian mineworkers in the USA for the 75^th anniversary are the signs of honour to the Patriarch of the Lithuanian nation.

Lithuania on Map (Room 3)

In 1905, following the adoption of the resolution concerning the striving for autonomy of Lithuania, there emerged the need to announce to the world that Lithuania had existed, existed, and would exist. After one year, the first Lithuanian Map of Lithuania and its Peripheries was published. Juozas Gabrys published the European Ethnographic Map in Lausanne, in 1918. In around 1918, Antanas Viskantas made the Lithuanian Ethnographic Map, where the distribution of the Lithuanian language within the part of Lithuania belonging to Russia according to the 1897 data as well as within the part of Lithuania belonging to Prussia according to the 1900 data was depicted.

Lithuanian Diplomacy (Room 4)

On November 7, 1918, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established. Augustinas Voldemaras was assigned to the position of the Minister, whereas Petras Klimas was appointed Vice Minister. During the first years of the existence of the Lithuanian State, the Lithuanian diplomats were assigned the task to care about the recognition of Lithuania both de facto and de jure, to receive a credit for the restoration of the Lithuanian economy, and to defend the interests of Lithuania in the Vilnius case. By 1939, Lithuania had had 73 representative offices and embassies abroad. The diplomatic passport of the first Lithuanian diplomat Jurgis Saulys, the tail-coat of Petras Klimas, and the furniture that once belonged to the Embassy of Lithuania in Bern and was later bought and given to Lithuania as a gift by Dr. Vaclovas Darguzas are exhibited in this room.

Mykolas Birziska Memorial Exposition (Room 5)

Prof. Mykolas Birziska (1882–1962) was the founder and director of the Vilnius Lithuanian Gymnasium (the Gymnasium of Vytautas the Great from 1921) (1915–1922), the rector of the Kaunas (1926–1927) and Vilnius (1940–1944) Universities, and a researcher of Lithuanian literature.

Mykolas Birziska participated in the struggle of Vilnius Lithuanians for their national rights, and defended the right of Lithuania to the capital Vilnius. Moreover, he was elected the first chairman of the Provisional Committee of Vilnius Lithuanians. While performing the duties of the chairperson, Mykolas Birziska revealed great tolerance and diplomatic wisdom. Also, he was an active member of the Lithuanian Scientific Society and the Lithuanian Society to Aid War Victims. In 1922, Mykolas Birziska was exiled from Vilnius as an unwanted Lithuanian figure by the Polish Government. During the years of the World War II, the signatory retreated to the West.

Lithuanian Scientific Society (Room 7)

In 1907, together with his peers Jonas Basanavicius founded the Lithuanian Scientific Society, which accumulated and enriched the intellectual potential essential for both the society and nation. All across the country schools were being opened and Lithuanian textbooks as well as books were being published. A library, archive and museum were established under the Society. Moreover, the Society published the first Lithuanian scientific magazine Lietuvių tauta (Eng. Lithuanian Nation), the edition of which consisted of 700-900 copies. Through its activities, the Society sought to prepare the nation for the development of a modern state. Out of the twenty signatories of the Act of Independence nineteen were also the members of the Lithuanian Scientific Society.

The then government restricted the activities of the Society, i.e. the number of public lectures was limited, paper themes had to be submitted in advance, the delivery of Lithuanian publications printed abroad was hindered, and the minutes of the meetings had to be drawn in Russian.

The publications, photographs, documents, and the signboard of the Society are displayed in the room.

Portrait Gallery (Room 8)

In the Gallery, the portraits of the members of the Council of Lithuania painted by painter Rimgaudas Zebenka are exhibited. The portraits were given as a gift by the Club of Signatories to the March 11 Independence Act of Lithuania.

Activities of Lithuanians Abroad (Room 10)

Following the third partition of the Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth, the entire Lithuania with the exception of Uznemune was annexed to Tsarist Russia. The name of Lithuania was wiped off the world map. When Lithuania announced about its striving for autonomy, Europe, which had already forgotten the statehood of Lithuania, had to be reminded of the historical past of Lithuanians, and the idea of the Independent State of Lithuania had to be spread.

Juozas Gabrys-Parsaitis founded the Lithuanian Information Bureau, which functioned in Paris in 1911–1915 and in Lausanne in 1915–1919. On June 27-29, 1916, the 3^rd Congress of Nationalities was held in Lausanne at the initiative of Juozas Gabrys-Parsaitis. This was the first time when Lithuanians spoke publicly in favour of Lithuanian independence. During 1915–1918, the Lithuanian Information Bureau issued 47 publications, i.e. books, brochures, and maps. A part of the publications as well as the photographs of the persons who spread the name of Lithuania abroad are displayed in the room.

Lithuanian Society to Aid War Victims (Room 11)

When the World War I started, the Lithuanian Society to Aid War Victims was founded on September 27, 1914. All kinds of political activities were suspended in Lithuania, Lithuanian newspapers were banned. The permission to perform its functions was granted only to the Society. The Central Committee established in a rented flat of this house owned by merchant Kazimieras Stralis was authorised to run the Society. During the occupation, the Society also became the centre of political life. On June 10, 1916, the members of the Central Committee of the Society presented two memorandums to the German occupation authorities indicating clearly the striving of the Lithuanians for the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania based on democratic principles with the capital Vilnius and Seimas. The majority of the members of the Central Committee of the Society became the signatories of the Act of Independence. Photographs, documents, personal belongings of signatories Kazimeras Bizauskas and Petras Vileisis are exhibited in the room.

Lithuanian Conference on September 18–22, 1917 (Room 12)

During the Lithuanian Conference a resolution was adopted to declare an independent Lithuania and the Council of Lithuania comprised of 20 persons was elected to carry out the resolution. After half a year, on February 16, 1918, the members of the Council signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania.

The exposition displays the minutes of the Organising Committee of the Conference, the permission of Jurgis Saulys to participate in the Lithuanian Conference and a participant ribbon. Moreover, personal belongings and photographs of Bishop of Telsiai, representative of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania, leader of Lithuanian delegations for the acknowledgement of Lithuanian independence, and participant of the Lithuanian Conferences in Bern and Vilnius Justinas Staugaitis are exhibited.

Subscription Room of Act of Independence of Lithuania (Room 13)

On February 16, 1918 at 11 o’clock in the morning, the members of the Council of Lithuania gathered in the office of chairman of the Central Committee of the Lithuanian Society to Aid War Victims Antanas Smetona. Jonas Basanavicius read ceremonially the decree of the Council of Lithuania, i.e. the Act of Independence of Lithuania. All 20 members of the Council voted for the decree and signed it in alphabetical order.

The photographs of the members of the Council of Lithuania as well as the Act of Independence of Lithuania announced in the daily Lietuvos aidas (Eng. Echo of Lithuania) published upon the initiative of the Council are displayed in the room. Exposition visitors have the possibility to compare the interior of the room with the only surviving photograph of the then furnishings.

Hall of House of Signatories

In 1939, the World Fair was held in New York where, among other 60 nations, Lithuanians presented their country placing great emphasis on its historical past. Painters Petras Kalpokas, Adomas Galdikas, Stasys Usinskas, and Adomas Smetona were commissioned to produce monumental paintings revealing the most significant events in the history of Lithuania - from the baptism of Mindaugas to the declaration of the independence of Lithuania in 1918.

When the World War II broke out, the works exhibited in New York were not returned to Lithuania. The painting Signatories by Petras Kalpokas, which adorned the Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, has been brought back to Lithuania after nearly seven decades and is now displayed in the Hall of the House of Signatories.