The history of the National Museum of Lithuania begins from the year 1855 - in that year the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities was founded by Eustachijus Tiskevicius, the eminent collector and researcher of Lithuanian culture history. From the first day of its foundation the Museum was representing culture and history of The Lithuanian Grand Duchy. It was very popular and enjoyed abundance of the visitors.

The defeat national liberation insurrection in the year 1863 brought a painful impact on Lithuanian culture. The administrative reparations also did not pass by the Museum of Antiquities. The exhibits, directly related to Lithuanian history, were taken away to Moscow in 1868. The remaining collections of the Museum of Antiquities were reorganised and passed to the possession of newly founded Vilnius Public Library. It was founded on the basis of former library of the Museum. During the years 1866 -1914, the Museum itself worked as a part of this library. In 1915, when the front of World War I approached, part of the exhibits was taken far away to Russia.

In 1919, based on the collections of the Museum of Antiquities and the Lithuanian Scientific Society, the Museum of History and Ethnography was founded. One of Lithuanian national liberation leaders, Dr. Jonas Basanavicius, was appointed there as the Director. In 1919, the Museum`s creation work was interrupted by Polish occupation of Vilnius. On the basis of remaining collections, the museums of Archaeology, Ethnography and Nature were working in the University.

In 1941, the Academy of Sciences took over all collections from all the museums in Vilnius. The eminent museum worker, culture historian Vincas Zilenas successfully restored the structure of the Museum of Antiquities in 1952. The work, started in 1919 by Dr. Jonas Basanavicius, was completed - the Lithuanian Museum of History and Ethnography was created. In 1967, the Museum established itself on the territory of Vilnius castles in the building of the former New Arsenal.

In 1968, the exposition, reflecting history and culture of Lithuanian State, were opened. Careful work in the expeditions, permanent searching for the scattered collections allowed to accumulate the largest collection of Lithuanistics in the country. In 1992, taking into consideration the main collections, which witness the Lithuanian statehood and national history, the Museum was named as the National Museum of Lithuania.

There are six specialised departments of the Lithuanistic collections: History, Archaeology, Ethnography, Numismatics, and Iconography. In these departments there are stored more than 800000 of exhibits.

Address
1 Arsenalo St, LT-2600 Vilnius.
Tel.: +370-5-262774, +370-5-2629426.
Fax +370-5-2611023.
E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt

Opening times
Wednesday to Sunday 10.00-18.00.

Admission charge
Adults - Lt 4;
Pupils, students - Lt 2;
Guided tours - Lt 15.