National Museum of Lithuania, Vilnius

The National Museum of Lithuania, located in the capital city of Vilnius, is a state-sponsored historical museum that has a rich and complex history. The museum was officially established in 1952, and since then, it has grown to encompass a variety of significant structures and a vast collection of written materials and artifacts.

The museum's roots can be traced back to the Museum of Antiquities, which was founded in Vilnius in 1855 by Eustachy Tyszkiewicz. The museum was initially focused on the history and culture of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy and was made up mostly of Polish private collections. It quickly gained popularity and received many visitors. However, after the January Uprising of 1863, much of the collection was moved to Moscow by the Russian Empire. The remaining collections were reorganized and incorporated into the Vilnius Public Library, which operated in conjunction with the museum until 1914.

In 1915, with the approach of the Eastern Front of World War I, more of the exhibits were taken to Russia. After Lithuanian independence was established in 1918, the Museum of History and Ethnography was founded based on the collections in the Museum of Antiquities and the Lithuanian Scientific Society. The museum's director was Jonas Basanavičius, one of the signatories to the Act of Independence of Lithuania. After Vilnius became a part of Poland in 1919, the organization was incorporated into Vilnius University.

In 1941, the collections of all the museums in Vilnius were acquired by the Academy of Sciences. The National Museum of Lithuania again became a separate entity in 1952, under the direction of historian Vincas Žilėnas. In 1967, the museum relocated to the Vilnius Castle Complex's New Arsenal, where it has been located ever since.

Over the years, the museum has hosted a variety of exhibitions and has gathered historical materials from across the country. In 1992, after Lithuania re-established its independence, the museum was renamed the National Museum of Lithuania and became part of the Ministry of Culture.

Today, the museum is home to an impressive collection of artifacts and materials that help tell the story of Lithuania's rich history and cultural heritage. It also organizes archeological digs in Lithuania, making it a vital center of research and preservation.