Description of the attraction
The Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation is located in Old Riga in the rebuilt building of the former Dome Cathedral. It is not only the oldest museum in Latvia, but also in Europe.
The origins of the museum go back to the 18th century. The rich funds are based on a collection of exhibits by the doctor of Riga Nikolaus von Himsel (1729–1764). After the death of Nikolaus, his mother, according to her son's will, donated exhibits, including natural science, art, and historical items, to Riga. In February 1773, the rulers of Riga gave an order to establish a museum, naming it after Himzel. Then the museum was located in the building of the Anatomical Theater, located on the street. Kaleyu 34/36. Unfortunately, this building has not survived to this day.
In 1791, the museum moved to the eastern wing of the Dome Cathedral, specially equipped for the needs of the museum and the city library. In 1816, an arts office was opened in the museum, and at the end of the 19th century - a coin office. The development of the museum is associated with the activities of various societies, the collections of which were presented in the museum in 1858. In 1890, the societies that took part in the life of the museum (the society for the study of the history and antiquities of the Baltic provinces of Russia, the Literary Practical Union of Citizens, etc.) moved, along with the collections, to the Dome ensemble, in which for the needs of the museum a building was erected on the street. Palasta, 4.
In 1932, the Dome Museum, including the existing collections, joined the list of objects of the Monuments Authority of the Republic of Latvia, but four years later it was closed. At the same time, the city administration of the city established the Riga City History Museum. The development of the newly created museum was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War, and later it was prevented by the Soviet occupation. During this difficult period, it has changed its name more than once, since 1964 and to this day it is called the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation.
In 2005 the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation was transformed into the State Agency. Today, the museum contains over half a million items, divided into 80 collections. The most significant collections are archaeological and numismatic. The museum has 3 branches - the Mentzendorf House in Riga, the Latvian Museum of Photography and the Museum of the Ainaži Naval School.
