This summer, the National Museum of Lithuania’s House of Signatories is inviting residents of Vilnius and visitors alike to explore the Lithuanian capital through guided tours and creative programs centered on photography, literature, urban culture and the history of statehood. Held both inside the museum and throughout the city’s streets, the events aim to reveal Vilnius as a living, layered landscape – one best understood not only through monuments, but through stories.

The summer program opens with the tour series “The Vilnius of Photographer Jan Bułhak,” commemorating the 150th anniversary of one of the city’s most celebrated photographers. Participants will walk through the Vilnius of the early 20th century, tracing the city through the photographer’s lens.

As the route winds through places connected to Bułhak’s life, visitors will encounter the streets, squares and architecture of a vanished era, along with fragments of the city that no longer exist and traces of Vilnius’ once deeply multicultural character. The tour presents the city as “a living archive of memory,” preserving the marks of history, photography and everyday life. Tours will take place on May 24 at 12:00, June 17 at 18:00, July 16 at 18:00 and August 22 at 12:00.

Stories of Vilnius’ cultural life will continue with the tour “The Vilnius of Žemaitė,” scheduled for May 30 at 12:00. This time, visitors are invited to discover the capital through the experiences of writer Julija Žymantienė-Žemaitė. Moving through the halls of the House of Signatories and the surrounding streets, participants will explore the writer’s relationship with the city, her public activism, her role in the national movement and her engagement with women’s rights. The stories will not shy away from Žemaitė’s characteristic humor or her sharp observations about urban life. By the end of the tour, visitors will be encouraged to reflect on how many of her ideas still resonate today.

Later in the summer, the House of Signatories will offer a lighter, more everyday perspective on the city. The family-oriented tour “Summers in Vilnius 100 Years Ago” will reveal how residents of Vilnius – and the signatories themselves – spent the warm season a century ago. During the walks, participants will learn where locals once relaxed, strolled or sought relief during hot summer days. Guests will be welcomed with chilled lemonade at the beginning of each tour, while families with children can take part in interactive activities, search for clues and discover the entertainments that once shaped summertime in Vilnius. Tours will take place on June 6 and 14, July 12 and 30, and August 2 and 13.

The season will culminate with events on July 6 marking Statehood Day and the Day of the National Anthem. On that day, the House of Signatories will invite families to a guided tour and creative workshop titled “Historic Symbols of Lithuania.” Visitors will learn more about the origins of Lithuania’s national symbols, the evolution of the historic flag and the emergence of the tricolor. The event is intended as a meaningful complement to the traditional flag-raising ceremony held near the Presidential Palace. At the close of the tour, participants will join creative workshops where they can craft a personal commemorative symbol—a badge to mark the holiday. Activities will take place on July 6 at 10:30 and 13:30.

All tours begin at the Gallery of the House of Signatories, located at Pilies g. 26 in Vilnius. Because most events will take place outdoors, visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear and dress appropriately for the weather.

Tickets for events can be purchased online: click here.

It is also possible to arrange private group tours at individually scheduled times. More information is available by email at [email protected] or by phone at +370 669 44148.

Visitors should note that, due to reconstruction work and preparations for a new permanent exhibition, the elevator at the House of Signatories has been out of service since May 17. The museum remains accessible via the courtyard staircase. Beginning May 18, the gallery can be visited without registration, though tours and escape-room activities will be available only to pre-registered groups accompanied by a guide.

Once dismantling work begins on the second floor in the latter half of July, visitors will no longer be admitted to the exhibition spaces, and indoor tours and educational activities will be suspended. Outdoor tours and the escape-room program, however, will continue.

Current visitor information for the House of Signatories is available here: click here.