History Museums
Museums dedicated to various historical topics will help to explore the history of Latvia and Riga through the centuries.
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
The Museum reveals Latvia's history from 1940 until 1991, when occupations by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany were experienced.
Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation
This is the oldest public museum in Latvia and one of the oldest in Europe, the origin of which dates back to 1773. The Museum's 16 exposition halls tell of the creation and development of Riga over more than 800 years, as well as shipping in the territory of Latvia from the 10th century until today.
National History Museum of Latvia
The National History Museum of Latvia at Brīvības bulvāris 32 will be open only until 31 May – the museum is starting to return to the historical home of the museum – in the castellum of the Riga Castle (Pils laukums 3). You are welcome to museum again in the autumn of 2024.
Latvian War Museum
The Museum exposition reveals Latvia’s military political history with a special emphasis on the 20th century, a period during which the Latvian people had to fight to gain their independence on two occasions.
The Corner House
The Corner House, a project by the Occupation Museum, provides the opportunity for the wider public to gain insight into the former KGB, or ‘Cheka’, headquarters in Riga by preparing an exhibition on the institution’s operation in Latvia and a tour of the building.
Mentzendorff House
The Mentzendorff House, with its 17th–18th century atmosphere, is the only museum of its kind in the Baltics. The museum introduces visitors to the traditions of a wealthy Rigan’s household.
Latvian Ethnographic Open-air Museum
The Latvian Ethnographic Open-air Museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe. Now its territory covers 87.66 hectares of forest on the banks of Lake Jugla. The museum displays 118 historic buildings from all Latvian regions - Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale dating from the 17th century to the beginning of 1930s.
Popular Front Museum
The Popular Front Museum is a modern history archive with specific documents and display items, reflecting the Latvian people's struggle for liberty at the end of the 20th century, to be known forever as the third Period of Reawakening or the Singing Revolution.
Dauderi
"Dauderi" house, which belongs to the National History Museum of Latvia, is located in one of Rīga's neighbourhoods - Sarkandaugava. It was opened in 1990 and is the only museum in this area.
1991 Barricades Museum
The 1991 Barricades Museum was established in 2001 on the basis of historical items collected by the association of participants of the barricades of 1991. The museum is located in the heart of Rīga's Old Town, on Krāmu Street, where those on the barricades used to eat and relax. Its mission is to realize, preserve, study and communicate the spirit and the material evidence about the events of January and August 1991 in Latvia and hold dear the memory of the victims.