Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs

About the museum

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia was founded in 1993 on the initiative of the American historian Paul Lazda. Its first exhibition, “Baigais gads, 1940./1941.” (The Terrible Year, 1940/1941), opened on 1 July, and the museum became a place for explaining the events of the occupation period. The museum is maintained and run by the public-benefit organisation Latvijas Okupācijas muzeja biedrība, and it is a state-accredited private museum.

The exhibition is located on Latviešu strēlnieku laukums in Vecrīga. Reconstruction of the building began in 2017; in 2018 the foundations of the new extension were laid, and in 2022 the museum returned to its site with a new permanent exhibition designed by the H2E studio.

The museum's collection contains more than 75,000 objects: documents, photographs, diaries, letters and personal belongings from the time of deportation and exile. The audiovisual archive holds more than 2,500 video testimonies, one of the largest collections on this subject in Europe. Of particular importance are 13 letters written on birch bark in Siberia, which are included in the Latvian national register of the UNESCO Memory of the World programme.

The museum also owns the Stūra māja (Corner House) at Brīvības iela 61, where guided tours and an exhibition on the history of the Cheka in Latvia take place in the former KGB (VDK) building.

Key themes

• Permanent exhibition on three occupations, 1939–1991
• Collection of more than 75,000 objects
• More than 2,500 video testimonies
• Letters on birch bark from Siberia
• Stūra māja – former KGB building with guided tours

Permanent exhibitions

• Latvija Padomju Savienības un nacionālsociālistiskās Vācijas okupāciju varā 1939–1991 – Permanent exhibition, opened on 30 May 2022, on three occupations, deportations, resistance and the restoration of independence.
• Stūra māja – Čekas vēsture Latvijā – Exhibition and guided tours in the former KGB (VDK) building at Brīvības iela 61 on the activities of Soviet repressive institutions in Latvia.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Latvijas Okupācijas muzeja biedrība

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 25 March, 4 May, 14 June, 4 July and 18 November

Free admission also for people persecuted for political reasons, staff of other Latvian museums, ICOM members, people serving in the Latvian armed forces and citizens of Ukraine. Guided tours for children up to 7 years of age, people persecuted for political reasons and citizens of Ukraine are free of charge. At Stūra māja a guided tour costs €15; for students and pupils €9; people persecuted for political reasons and people with disabilities enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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 guided tour of Stūra māja takes place in authentic rooms that are not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers lessons for school groups. The Stūra māja exhibition is not recommended for children under 12.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Souvenirs are available in the museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit