Birth of Museum (Hall 1)

In 1855, upon the initiative of the Vilnius Commission of Archaeology, the first public Lithuanian museum – the Museum of Antiquities – was founded. The National Museum of Lithuania has been continuing the traditions of this museum. The following exposition presents the history of the Museum of Antiquities. The spirit of the Museum of Antiquities is brought to life by the authentic exhibits from the Museum of Antiquities as well as authentic 19^th century showcases in combination with the stylistics of modern museum display. The history of the Museum of Antiquities can be divided into two periods, i.e. from its establishment in 1855 to the reorganisation following the January Uprising, and from the exposition opened in 1865 to 1915.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Hall 2)

The exposition on the history of the Old Lithuania reflects the changeable times of prosperity and recession of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the establishment of the state in the 13^th century to its final collapse in 1795, and presents social development of the state of Lithuania during this epoch. Coherent historical events from the early Lithuania of the Gediminids to the GDL within the Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth are revealed with the help of authentic exhibits as well as autonomous themes interlinked by inner logic. The heritage of various ethno-confessional communities reflects the multicultural diversity of the GDL.

Lithuania in 19^th Century (Hall 3)

Having lost its statehood at the end of the 18^th century, the Lithuanian nation had to endure occupations, political persecutions and repressions, exiles and emigration. The entire 19^th century history of Lithuania is the history of an occupied country and a subdued nation. Nevertheless, this is also the age of resistance and liberation struggles, the period of the formation and modernisation of the nation, which has been crowned by the declaration of an independent state of Lithuania on February 16, 1918. The new exposition dedicated to the history of the 19^th century Lithuania highlights the most prominent contours of this impressive epoch, whereas authentic exhibits reveal the ideals, strivings and experience of our ancestors.

Lifestyle Culture of Lithuanian Peasants – Interior Textile and Clothing (Hall 4)

Old weaving traditions are reflected in the homemade woollen and flaxen textiles from the end of the 18^th – the beginning of the 20^th centuries intended for various domestic needs as well as for clothing. Bedspreads, tablecloths, and towels introduce the old weaving styles, ornamentation and colour combinations characteristic of interior textile. The displayed festive garments of peasants from the end of the 18^th – the beginning of the 20^th centuries present the clothing of peasants and the wearing traditions from different ethnographic regions.

Lifestyle Culture of Lithuanian Peasants – Interior (Hall 5)

The interiors of various rooms of a residential house of peasants from the 18^th – the end of the 19^th centuries have been reproduced in the exposition.

The Aukstaitian (Highland) three-room hut without a chimney to its fireplace as well as the Samogitian (Lowland) chimney room and the good room together with all equipment and appliances typical of those times used for room lighting, cooking, and food storing are displayed.

Cross Crafting (Hall 6)

The exposition presents the tradition of cross crafting of the 17^th – the 1^st half of the 20^th centuries. The old memorial monuments, folk sculpture, and forged iron crosses are displayed. The exposition focuses on folk sculpture presenting carving peculiarities as well as thematic diversity of different ethnographic regions. The statuettes of various plots of the saints are exhibited. The photographs illustrate visually the Lithuanian landscape of those times with crosses, wayside chapel-poles, and miniature chapels. Ornate processional crosses and lanterns remind of the processions that used to be held during church festivals. The documentaries shown at the exposition present the tradition of the old as well as contemporary cross crafting that was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO on May 18, 2001.