Panevėžys Local Lore Museum

Contacts
Address: Vasario 16-osios g. 23, LT-35185, Panevėžys.
Tel.: (+370 ~ 45) 46 23 31 director; (+370 ~ 45) 59 61 81 information.
E-mail: administracija@paneveziomuziejus.lt
http://www.paneveziomuziejus.lt/ 
Director – Arūnas Astramskas.

Information for Visitor

Opening hours:
Exposition of History, Exposition of Nature (Vasario 16-osios g. 23, LT-35185, Panevėžys):
October – May: Tuesday to Friday 9–17; Saturday 10–15.
June – September: Tuesday to Saturday 10–17.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
Juozas Zikaras’ House and Museum:
15 April – 15 October: Tuesday to Saturday 11–15.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
Smilgiai Ethnographic Farmstead:
15 April – 15 October: Tuesday to Saturday 11–15.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
The Oldest Building of Panevėžys:
Wednesday to Saturday 10–15.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
Museum of Resistance to the Soviet Occupation:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 10–14.
Wednesday, Friday 13–17.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.

Admission:
adults – 3 Lt;
children, pupils and students – 1 Lt.
First Wednesday of the month – free.

Additional services:
booking of excursion to the museum;
booking excursions in the city of Panevezys and its district;
xeroxcopies of historical documents;
copying books and booklets;
Search for audio- and video- material, copying;
making photographs from negatives;
photocopies of displays.

Collection
The collection includes archaeological finds, exhibits of history, nature, medicine, folk art and Far East art.
More than 95 000 displays are kept in the museum.
The main collections of the museum: archaeological, numismatic, collections of banknotes, books, natural items, ethnography, things, photographs and negatives, periodicals, documents, philately, sports, audio and video records, folklore, subsidiary collection.

Expositions
The permanent exposition  tells the history of the area from ancient times to World War II

Exposition of History
This exposition acquaints with the history of the land since the oldest times. It reflects the history of Upytė territories, the development of the city of Panevėžys, historical, cultural and industrial development of the area. Treasury of Dutch coins of the XVII century, craftsmen’s tools, furniture having belonged to the burgomaster of the city T. Chodakauskas, various weapons, state awards, photographs and documents are exposed.
The exposition part of 20th century of Panevėžys city consists of three parts: a photo studio, a fragment of a town square, and a shop.

Exposition of Nature
A large collection of European, Asian and American butterflies is on display.
Flora and fauna of the area is shown. Staffed birds and animals, models of mushrooms, herbarium of rare plants, a unique collection of butterflies and beetles from the whole world gathered by V. Strasevicius are demonstrated, visitors are acquainted with natural monuments of the area.

Exhibitions
Exhibitions of archaeology, history, nature, ethnography, photography are organized in the museum.

Cultural, educational activity
Historical conferences;
Seminars for teachers;
Consultations for folklore companies;
Acquainting the society with traditions of calendar holidays;
Circles for children;
Educational programs for schoolchildren in the expositions of archaeology, nature, ethnography where children deepen the knowledge acquired at school.

Departments
Department for Protection and Registration of the Collections;
Department of History;
Department of Ethnic Culture;
Department of Nature.

Branch Museums

Juozas Zikaras’ House and Museum
Address: Paliukų kaimas, LT-38429, Panevėžio rajonas.
15 April – 15 October: Tuesday to Saturday 11–15.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
Memorial homestead of sculptor Juozas Zikaras (1881–1944) is located at his birthplace. Museum, opened in 1972 introduces life and work of this well-known Lithuanian sculptor, copies of his works, photographs and documents. Among the best-known works of Juozas Zikaras is the statue of Liberty in Kaunas. The sculptor also created the models for every issue of the coins of Lithuanian state (1918–1940).

Smilgiai Ethnographic Farmstead
Address: Smilgiai, LT-38374, Panevėžio rajonas.
15 April – 15 October: Tuesday to Saturday 11–15.
Closed on the last Friday of the month
19th century homestead of Aukštaitija region features the characteristic plan of authentic buildings (living quarters, smithery, granary, barn, bathhouse, examples of sacred architecture) and their interiors. The exposition of ethnographic homestead recreates the authentic life, trade and crafts of 19th century pheasants. Major part of exposition presents the agricultural tools, implements and the craft of smithery. Museum is established in 1979.

The Oldest Building of Panevėžys
Address: Kranto g. 21, LT-35172, Panevėžys.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10–15. Closed on the last Friday of the month.
The archives of local Court of Upytė built in 1614 by the elder of Žemaitija (Samogitia) and Upytė Jeronimas Valavičius. The building was built in stone with solid doors and iron bars to ensure maximum security. This is the oldest archive building in Lithuania. Later on it acquired different functions and was used for various domestic purposes. The first exposition of Panevėžys museum was opened in the oldest building of this town in January 18, 1925. The folk art exhibition is also open here since 1972.
Permanent Exhibition "Upytės Boyars"
It is devoted to the estate of the boyars who governed the land for centuries. From the 15th century onward, the Upytės Boyars actively played a role in all historical events of the area.
On exhibit are the authentic belongings of the boyars of the area, their documents, hoards of coins, manor photographs and portraits as well as their family crests. In addition, there is the interior of the manor and a legendary installation whose subject matter is the Čičinkas family.
The installation can be found in the original building – Upytės local archives, where the parliamentary documents, court decisions, and testaments of the local boyars were stored. It is the oldest archives building in Lithuania.

Museum of Resistance to the Soviet Occupation
Address: Respublikos g. 17, LT-35185, Panevėžys.
Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 10–14; Wednesday, Friday 13–17.
Closed on the last Friday of the month.
Museum was opened in 2004 in the former quarters of “Sajūdis” movement of Panevėžys. Exposition reflects the resistance to the soviet occupation in Panevėžys region during the period of 1940–1990. Main subjects: first soviet occupation, exile and imprisonment, partisan war, unarmed resistance, “Sąjūdis” movement.
Large part of exposition, dedicated to the first Soviet period in Panevėžys region, reflects the terror of receding Red army.
Photographs, personal objects of prisoners and exiles illustrate the life of political prisoners and deportees.
It also presents impressive exposition of partisan war, unarmed civil resistance, underground and dissident activities.
Activities of “Sąjūdis” movement and regaining of independence of Lithuania finalize the exhibition. It also includes virtual exposition and reading room.

Other news
The museum was founded in 1925. The Panevėžys Forestry and the Teachers’ College collected its first exhibits.
Until 1947 it was called Panevėžys museum.
Founder of the museum – municipality of the city of Panevėžys.