jonava area museum

Contacts
Address: J. Basanavičiaus g. 3, Jonava.
Tel. (+370 ~ 349) 52 335. 
Fax (+370 ~ 349) 50 030.
E-mail: muziejus.jonava@takas.lt
http://www.jonavosmuza.lt
Director – Regina Karaliūnienė.

Information for visitor

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8–18.
Saturday 10–15.

Additional services:
Reservation of excursions;
Reservation of educational hours, lectures;
Provision with historical information;
Making of video films about this land, its people and renting of them;
Photographing of exhibits;
Copying of documents;
Consulting;
Publishing services;
Exposing of works.

Collection
The museum contains archaeological finds, numismatics items, documents, household articles and folk art.

Exposition
The historical section of the Museum’s exposition displays archaeological finds, old documents, photographs and albums, numismatics, old printings, the exiles’ personal things, pictures, icons, sculpture, pendants, landmarks, badges, banners, war trophies and many other interesting exhibits.
On September 25, 1999 the Section of History opened a new exposition dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Museum and to the 250th anniversary of the Jonava town foundation.
The section of ethnography deals with old working tools, household articles, textiles, furniture, clothes, handicrafts, works of ethnic art and not a few other ethnographic exhibits.

Exhibitions
Each month the Museum organizes movable exhibitions of art, folk art, photography, exhibitions dedicated to memory of the countrymen, poets, writers. The exhibitions of literature, ethnographic works, documents also take place.

Cultural, educational activity
Lecturing to pupils and adults;
Organizing of expeditions;
Organizing of various evenings;
Making of video films.

Departments
History Department;
Ethnography Department;
Department of Art.

Branch Museums

The Samulevičiai Family Farmstead
Address: Praulių kaimas, Šilai, LT-55461, Jonavos rajonas.
Established in 1991, the museum displays material about the lives and works of the painter Antanas Samuolis (1899-1942), the playwright Raimundas Samulevičius (1937–1981) and the folk artist Stase Samulevičienė (1906–1988).
Each year literary evenings of reminiscences take place in memory of R. Samulevičius, the Aidas festival of amateur theaters.
The Museum is famous for celebration of Pentecost festivity organized in this farmstead.

Petras Vaičiūnas Birthplace
Address: Piliakalnių kaimas, Šilai, LT-55457, Jonavos rajonas.
Founded in 1967 the museum commemorates Petras Vaičiūnas (1890–1959), the poet and playwright. Established in the poet’s birthplace the exhibition contains the Vaičiūnas family furniture, books, ex-libris, pictures, and albums of photographs.
Each year, on July 11, to celebrate the birthday of this poet and playwright, his family members, friends and guests come to the P. Vaičiūnas Home.

Center of Folk Art and Trade
Address: Šveicarijos kaimas, Dumsių seniūnija, Jonavos rajonas.
Exposition is composed of the oldest region trades: straw gardens, twigs weaving, carving, painting, ceramics, weaving, woven sashes weaving, flax working up, spinning, hunting, fishing and others. There are rooms of weaving, hunting and fishing, flax, bee-keeper, herbalist and joiner‘s shop.
Exhibits were given by folk artists of Jonava region.
Center of folk art and trade was established in 2002.

History of the Museum
The museum was founded in 1989.
The roots of this museum lie in the exhibition “The old Jonava” organized in 1987 in the building of the prewar gymnasium (now the Art School).
In 1989 the then Jonava District Council decided to allot premises for the museum - the house of B. Garmus, the exiled teacher.
In August 1, 1989 the Museum of Ethnography in Jonava was opened. Its founder is R. Karaliūnienė, the present director of Jonava Area Museum.
When the building of the Museum passed to the exile’s inheritors, the Museum moved into new premises in 1992 and was granted a status of state museum as the Jonava Area Museum.
The founder of the Museum is the Jonava Region Municipality.
The sponsors of the Museum: AB Achema, Jonavos duona, Beržų kompleksas, Joneda etc.