Latvijas dzelzceļa vēstures muzejs

About the museum

The Latvian Railway History Museum was founded in 1994 as a unit of the state company Latvijas dzelzceļš (Latvian Railways). The museum collects, preserves and researches evidence of the development of the railway in Latvia, and in 2003 it received the status of a state-accredited museum.

The museum's most characteristic collection is its rolling stock – locomotives, carriages and other railway vehicles. Its collection of broad-gauge rolling stock is the largest in the Baltics, and some of the exhibits can be seen in an outdoor display, where visitors can climb into locomotives and carriages. Indoors, the exhibition “Ritekļu vēsture Latvijā” (History of Rolling Stock in Latvia) traces the history of steam locomotives step by step, from the first machines in the mid-19th century to 1940.

The interactive exhibition “Stacijas dzīve” (Life at the Station) recreates a 20th-century station with its duty officer's equipment and clocks, while the hand-built 1:87 scale model railway shows Latvia's railway infrastructure, buildings and landscapes. The museum also offers lessons for pupils, family events and rides on a hand-operated rail trolley.

Highlights

• Largest collection of broad-gauge rolling stock in the Baltics
• Opportunity to climb into locomotives and carriages
• Interactive exhibition “Stacijas dzīve” (Life at the Station)
• 1:87 scale model railway
• Rides on a hand-operated rail trolley
• Soviet-era locomotives ER2 and TEP60

Permanent exhibitions

• Ritekļu vēsture Latvijā, 1858–1940 – The exhibition traces the history of steam locomotives in Latvia step by step, from the first machines in the mid-19th century to 1940.
• Stacijas dzīve – Interactive exhibition for families recreating a 20th-century station, its equipment and the everyday life of its staff.
• Dzelzceļa modeļa makets – Hand-built 1:87 scale model of Latvia's railway infrastructure, buildings and landscape; trains run along the tracks once an hour.

Founded

1994

Operated by

VAS „Latvijas dzelzceļš“

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for orphans and children without parental care, people persecuted for political reasons, staff of Latvian museums and ICOM members (on presentation of the relevant card). Payment by bank card is possible at the ticket desk.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is accessible to people with mobility impairments and to visitors with pushchairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

For children there are object-hunt sheets, a play area and the opportunity to climb into locomotives and carriages; the museum also organises children's birthday parties and family events.

Getting there & parking

From Vecrīga it is about a 7-minute walk to the museum across the Daugava, just behind the Latvian National Library. Within the museum grounds, cars can only enter from Uzvaras bulvāris (in the direction from Pārdaugava to the centre).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

The museum has a free Wi-Fi access point and a souvenir kiosk (postcards, puzzles, books, games).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit