The Šiauliai History Museum, which has opened its doors after reconstruction, welcomes visitors to modern spaces combining traditional museum art and the latest technologies.
This is the historic building of the Aušra Museum, which was constructed in 1932 according to the design of the Šiauliai architect Vladas Bite and was intended for a school. Part of the building was given to the museum, which was established here in 1933. Today, the museum houses a modern open-air exhibition presenting the golden fund of the Dawn Museum, as well as an exhibition dedicated to the history of Šiauliai from the first inhabitants of this region to the declaration of the independent Republic of Lithuania in 1918.
The exhibition tells about the most important events that shaped Šiauliai and determined important turns in the development of the city. It highlights the codes of the city's history. It presents the oldest inhabitants of the region, their everyday life, everyday life, business and warfare. It shows the place of the town and the region in the 13th century, when the Lithuanian state was created. Here you can watch a reconstruction documentary about the victorious Battle of the Sun that took place in Šiauliai, find out what the city was like during the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Republic of the Two Nations, how it survived the historical breakthrough when it fell into the grip of the Tsarist Russian Empire, and what were the focal points for fostering and preserving Lithuanianness. The First World War, which left painful traces in the city, is also included in the exposition.
The content of the expositions is expanded by educational spaces and an outdoor exposition. An exhibition and event hall is also dedicated to multifunctional museum activities. A ramp, elevator and WC are available for visitors with reduced mobility.
The reconstruction project, financed by the EU Regional Development Funds and the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania, started in 2019, was successfully completed and opened in the spring of 2022 as the Šiauliai Museum of History.