museum of the customs

Contacts
Address: Jeruzalės g. 25, LT-08420, Vilnius.
Tel. (+370 ~ 5) 279 63 46.
Fax (+370 ~ 5) 269 72 63.
E-mail: arvydas.pranevicius[at]cust.lt
http://www.cust.lt/web/guest/apiemus/muziejus

Information for Visitor

Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday 8.30–16;
Friday 8.30–15,
lunch hour 13–14.

Admission:
free of charge.

Collection
The museum’s collection contains archival and other material about the history of the Lithuanian customs.

Exposition

The history of the Lithuanian Customs under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Russian Empire and after the re-establishment of the Lithuanian State in 1918
The exposition includes various documents, an authentic pillar from the Russian and Prussian frontier, photographs and postcards, depicting the activities of the Customs offices and frontier posts. This exposition also displays material related to the prohibition of the Lithuanian press, a copy of the pillar used for demarcation of the borderline in 1920, the Kantvainiai Customs sign of Memel (Klaipėda) region (1922–1923), government awards of A. Danta, who was one of the chief Customs officers during the interwar period, a uniform of a customs officer and other interesting showpieces.

The activities of the Lithuanian Customs in from June 1940 till 11 March 1990.
The activities of the Lithuanian Customs were discontinued upon Lithuania’s occupation by the Soviet Army in 1940. Soviet Customs offices operated in the territory of Lithuania until 1990.
This exposition displays various documents, photographs, a copy of the exile case of the former Customs officer A. Stasiulis and material related to other Customs officers against whom repressive actions were taken, illegally published publications, work tools of Soviet frontier guards and Customs officers as well as their methodical material and uniforms.
Besides, this exposition also emphasizes the aggression of the Soviet Army against the re-established independence of Lithuania, the attacks of the Customs posts and tragic events at Medininkai frontier post on 31 July, 1991 and at Krakūnai frontier post on 19 July, 1991.
The museum also invites to visit a memorial museum at the Medininkai frontier post, which was established to commemorate the Medininkai tragedy. The visitors of the museum can look around the original wagon, where seven Customs and Police officers were killed.

The activities of the Lithuanian Customs after re-establishing the independence of Lithuania on 11 March 1990 and after Lithuania’s accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004
The exposition displays the state flag of the Republic of Lithuania, which was bullet shredded at Lavoriškės post, the first uniforms of the Lithuanian officers of the National Voluntary Defence Service, Customs and Frontier Police), the current uniform of the Customs officer as well as the special uniform of the mobile Customs group, a copy of the pillar of the Lithuanian Frontier, seals and sealing devices.
Detained smuggled articles displayed in the marine container draw exceptional attention. Besides, the exposition presents a model of an automobile equipped with hiding-places for carrying smuggled goods and narcotic substances.
The Customs laboratory displays diesel oil of different kinds, husked and unhusked buckwheat, residues of maize, fabric samples and other goods, the codes of which are established by the Customs laboratory, and Customs tariffs are applied according to these codes.
The museum also displays various detained articles and souvenirs made of endangered animal or plant species (i.e., stuffed animals, fur skins of wild animals, ivory products, crocodile and snake skins, various bottled beverages containing animal parts or plants and etc.), which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Detained and fake goods, the production of which infringes intellectual property rights (i.e. by forging trademark labels of various well-known companies without the consent of the right holders), are also displayed in the marine container.
Moreover, a film produced by the Customs Criminal Service supplements the material displayed in this exposition.

Gifts and souvenirs from all over the world
This exposition features interesting gifts and souvenirs received on various occasions from various countries of the world.

Exhibitions
The museum arranges exhibitions of art, folk art, children creativity of Lithuanian Customs employees.

Other news
The museum was opened in 1994.
Founder of the museum is Department of Customs.

Photos from the museum's funds