History of the New Arsenal

The New Arsenal is one of the oldest buildings of the complex of Vilnius Castles. Archaeological investigations have revealed that in the 14^th century a brick Gothic building stood in this location. The exterior wall of the building also served as a defensive wall of the castle. In the 1545 map of the city of Vilnius by Franz Hoogenbergh there is a long, one-storey brick architectural structure in the place of a current building. The eastern part of the structure had a tower, i.e. “lighthouse”, which had to assist in the navigation of barges on the Neris River. However, the purpose of the entire structure is not indicated. A later Fürstenhoff plan made in 1737 depicts a building joined with other two parallel buildings by a transverse edifice in the same location. This entire complicated ensemble comprised servant houses and outbuildings of the estate of a Grand Duke. There is a presumption that in 1648-1794 the court of Castle jurisdiction and administration were located in this building.

During the second half of the 18^th century, the building was transformed into barracks following the decree of Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Michal Kazimierz Oginski and its name was changed to the New Arsenal. Following the reconstruction, the altered exterior of the building has remained until the present day.

At the beginning of the 19^th century, a portico of massive columns was added in the centre of the facade. In 1960-1965 the building was renovated substantially and was adjusted to house the expositions of the National Museum of Lithuania in 1968.