Lithuanian National Museum

Overview

The Lithuanian National Museum, established in 1855, is the country's oldest and largest museum dedicated to Lithuanian history and culture. Located at the foot of Gediminas Hill in the former New and Old Arsenals, it traces Lithuanian civilisation from prehistoric times through the Grand Duchy era, the partitions, the independence movements, and the Soviet period. The collection includes over 800,000 objects.

Highlights

• Prehistoric hall: Tools, jewellery, and burial artefacts from the Baltic tribes dating back thousands of years.
• Grand Duchy of Lithuania section: Arms, documents, seals, and maps from the era when Lithuania was one of Europe's largest states.
• Modern history wing: Personal items, photographs, and documents from the 1918 and 1990 independence declarations.

History

Founded as the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities in 1855 by Count Eustachy Tyszkiewicz, the collection survived multiple wars and occupations. It was reorganised as the Lithuanian National Museum after independence in 1990 and has since expanded with new galleries and educational programmes.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Start with the New Arsenal building for chronological Lithuanian history.
• Tip 2: Free admission on the last Sunday of each month.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.