National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania | Minaugas Johnson

The reconstruction of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is one of the most important projects of Lithuania’s Millennium programme. This reconstructed historical residence in the heart of Lithuania’s capital should once again become the traditional symbol of Lithuania’s longlived statehood and an object of national pride. It should become a center for civic education, historical consciousness-raising and appreciation of material culture, for state ceremonial events and tourist information. It will also be an important part of Lithuania’s museum complex. The reconstruction of the palace in Vilnius, authorized by acts of the Lithuanian Parliament and Government in 2001 and 2002, is viewed by the public as important for national selfconsciousness and historical memory, for the restitution of historical truths regarding Lithuania’s independence and Vilnius as its historical capital, for the regeneration of the city’s historic core, for illustrating Lithuania’s historical and cultural roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – a multinational state of Lithuanians, Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Jews, Tatars, Karaims and other nationalities – and for showing the importance of Lithuania’s European ties, historic and current.

The reconstruction and refurbishment of the palace was to be finished and it was to be opened to the public in 2009, in time for the Millennium celebration. But because of financial and organizational problems, the historical residence was mostly reconstructed but not fully furnished and opened to the public. For this reason, the permanent exhibitions have not been installed yet nor the spaces for visitor services completed. In January, 2009, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was designated a National Museum but, again, could not begin its museum functions – research, collecting, exhibits, education – in its new home. The planned commemorative exhibitions for the opening of the Palace and the Millennium – Wawel in Vilnius: From the Jagiellonians to the End of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth(with the Lithuanian Art Museum and the Wawel Royal Castle), Lithuania in Ancient Historical Sources (with the Lithuanian Archives Department and others), and Art of the Balts (with the Vilnius Academy of Arts) – were shown nearby, in another important building of the Vilnius Lower Castle, the Old Arsenal, which is now the Museum of Applied Art.