Jonas Šliūpas Museum
History lovers will certainly be interested in the memorial homestead of Dr Jonas Šliupas.
Jonas Šliupas, a doctor and a famous public figure of the 20th century Lithuania, came to live in Palanga in 1930. Thanks to J. Šliupas, city rights were granted to Palanga and he was elected the first burgomaster of Palanga.
J. Šliupas memorial exhibition was opened in his homestead in July 1989. The history of Palanga, its surroundings, and ethnographic fragments, as well as the era of “Aušra” and “Varpas” are exhibited in the museum.
The history of this building begins at the end of the 19th century. It is believed that the house was built by Counts Tiškevičiai, who had great influence on the development of the infrastructure of Palanga resort.
In 1933, city rights were granted to Palanga, and Dr. Jonas Šliūpas became the burgomaster. J. Šliūpas, whose term lasted from 1933 till 1941 with breaks, settled down in Palanga in 1930. He was lured to this town by a charming Palanga resident, who later became his wife, Grasilda Grauslytė. He took up residence in a wooden one-storey house located on Vytauto Street. The most beautiful part of the house is the main south-eastern facade with moulding, decorated with openwork ornaments, balcony fence and profiled window rims with openwork transom motifs and diamond-shaped windows in the attic. The mezzanine is incorporated into the facade, as well as a glass veranda and a balcony above.
In 1989, an exposition was held to introduce key facts about the life and work of J. Šliūpas, presenting photographs reflecting the most significant moments in his political career. The interior of J. Šliūpas workroom and living room of the house were recreated in the style of a Lithuanian intellectual. Another part of the exposition was dedicated to the history of the Lithuanian national movement, Lithuanian press and Palanga city at the end of the 19 century and the beginning of the 20th century. Dr. Jonas Šliūpas Memorial Homestead is a division of the National Museum of Lithuania. In 1993, the building was granted the status of immovable cultural heritage property of regional importance.
Jonas Šliūpas was a Lithuanian national movement activist, physician, active promoter of independent Lithuania in the political strata of USA, publicist. He was born on 6 March, 1861, in Rakandžiai village, Gruzdžiai rural district, Šiauliai County. During World War l, J. Šliūpas activity dedicated to Lithuania became a diplomatic fight for Lithuania’s freedom. With the impending second Soviet occupation, together with his family, J. Šliūpas left for Austria in 1944. He died on 6 November in 1944 in Berlin and was buried in Chicago, in the Lithuanian National Cemetery.
Opening hours
III – VI, 10.00 – 17.00
VII – 10.00 – 16.00
Ticket price
Adults – 2 €
Childs – 1 €
Pupils and seniors – 1 €
For disabled people – free of charge
Family Ticket (2 Adults + 3 Childs) – 5 €
