Lietuvos sporto muziejus
The Lietuvos sporto muziejus in the Kaunas old town tells the story of Lithuanian sport, with exhibitions on basketball, boxing and the circus.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The idea of founding a sports museum in Lithuania arose as early as the interwar period, but there was no time to realise it. In 1982 the Ministry of Culture instructed three republican museums to collect exhibits on the history of sport; the largest contribution was made by the Kaunas State History Museum (today the Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus). The premises in Muziejaus gatvė in the Kaunas old town were assigned to the sports museum by the war museum.
The Lietuvos sporto muziejus was officially opened on 2 August 1991, during the 4th World Lithuanian Sports Games, as a branch of the war museum, and the exhibition was opened on 27 December 1993. Since 1 January 2006 it has operated as an independent museum. In the same year an exhibition on the history of the Lithuanian circus was also opened.
The museum consists of two buildings. One houses the main exhibition with the section on Olympic sport, an educational sports classroom opened in 2021 and thematic exhibitions; the neighbouring building houses the circus history and boxing exhibitions. The exhibition presents the history of Lithuanian sport from its origins to the present day and its main sports; the most space is devoted to basketball. Here one can see the Intercontinental (Jones) Cup won by the Kaunas “Žalgiris” basketball team in 1986, and the personal belongings of Modestas Paulauskas and Arvydas Sabonis. The stories of Lithuanian athletes in exile and deportation are also told.
Highlights
- Intercontinental (Jones) Cup won by the “Žalgiris” basketball team in 1986
- Personal belongings of Modestas Paulauskas and Arvydas Sabonis
- Boxing exhibition on the “ring gentleman” Algirdas Šocikas
- Jadvyga and Jonas Ramanauskas exhibition on the history of the Lithuanian circus
- Sports educational room and film screening room
Permanent exhibitions
- Pagrindinė muziejaus ekspozicija – The history of Lithuanian sport from its origins to the present day, Olympic sport, basketball and other sports, and the lives of Lithuanian athletes in exile and deportation.
- Ringo džentelmeno Algirdo Šociko bokso ekspozicija – Exhibition on the history of boxing and the boxer Algirdas Šocikas.
- Jadvygos ir Jono Ramanauskų Lietuvos cirko istorijos ekspozicija – Exhibition on the history of the Lithuanian circus, set up in the neighbouring museum building.
- Founded
- 1991
- Operated by
- Lietuvos sporto muziejus (biudžetinė įstaiga)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2pupils, students and pensioners |
| Children & teens | freePre-school children and children from children's homes visit free of charge. |
| Seniors | €2 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeVisitors with disabilities visit free of charge (with a certificate). |
| Students & apprentices | €2 |
| Families | €8Family ticket: 2 adults and 1–2 minor children. |
| Guide service for groups | €15Thematic tour – €20. |
Museum workers and military personnel also visit free of charge (with a certificate). Participants in educational programmes pay €2–4, according to the rate of each programme.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €8 · Family ticket: 2 adults and 1–2 minor children. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Family ticket: 2 adults and 1–2 children – €8. The museum has a sports educational room and an educational courtyard.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours and educational programmes can be booked; the museum has a film screening room, a sports educational room and an educational courtyard. |
