Exhibitions

The main exhibition venue of the National Museum of Lithuania focuses on the history of Lithuania from the formation of the state to the end of the 19th century and Lithuanian ethnic culture.

The exhibition of Lithuanian archaeology “Prehistory of Lithuania” contains more than 4,000 archaeological finds. These are unique examples of Baltic culture representing the culture of Lithuania from the appearance of the first residents in the territory of Lithuania in the 11th millennium B.C. to the formation of the Lithuanian state in the 13th century.

Once the political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Gediminas hill fort bears witness to the settling of the first inhabitants in this territory and the Teutonic crusades against Lithuania, as well as very important recent events: it marks the beginning of the Baltic Way in Lithuania, and somewhat earlier, on 1 January 1919, the Lithuanian tricolour was hoisted on this tower for the first time.

The renewed exhibition offers the visitors to take a close look at this monument of architecture, presents the history of the defensive castle of Vilnius and the armaments of that time.

In the small halls full of elements of the old Gothic architecture, expositions of historical graphics and Western European sculpture are arranged. The expositions are supplemented with the ensembles of Renaissance and Baroque furniture and the creative abstractions by Kazys Varnelis.

The renewed display uses both classical and new technologies to present Lithuania’s path toward statehood starting with the second part of the 19th c. all the way up to signing the fateful 16 February Act of Independence.

An exposition dedicated to the history of Kudirkos Naumiestis and Vincas Kudirka’s personality. The exhibition also includes traditional Zanavykian costumes from the late 19th century.

Jonas Basanavičius’s birthplace contains a solitary homestead of a well-to-do Suvalkian farmer with traditional residential and auxiliary buildings from the late 19th to early 20th century. This is where the leader of the national revival movement, physician and public figure, dr. Jonas Basanavičius (1851–1927), grew up.

A memorial exposition dedicated to famous figure of the National Revival, doctor and publicist Jonas Sliupas (1861-1944) was opened in Palanga, where Dr. Jonas Sliupas lived in 1930-1944 and was the first burgomaster of the town in 1933-1941.