Occupation Museum of Latvia

The Occupation Museum of Latvia at Latviesu strelnieku laukums 1 in the Old Town of Riga, Latvia, documents the period from 1940 to 1991, when the country was occupied first by the Soviet Union, then by Nazi Germany and then again by the Soviet Union. It stands in a building on Latvian Riflemen Square, beside the House of the Blackheads and Town Hall Square. The museum was founded in 1993 and presents its story through documents, photographs, personal belongings, film, recorded testimony and reconstructed environments. Visitors move through chronological sections that cover the first Soviet occupation and the mass deportations of June 1941, the years of German occupation, the return of Soviet rule, the postwar partisan resistance, life under the Soviet system and the road to restored independence in 1991. One of the most memorable displays is a reconstruction of a Siberian deportation setting, including a camp hut and items made by deportees, which gives a sense of the conditions many Latvians faced. Personal objects, letters and everyday items make the history concrete. A typical visit takes one to two hours, and audio guides are available in several languages. Admission is free, and donations are welcome to support the museum. The content is serious and some images are distressing, so the visit may not suit young children. Hours are typically daily from about 11:00 to 17:00, and the museum website lists winter schedules. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while tour groups can fill the galleries around midday. The museum is about 2 minutes on foot from Town Hall Square. For photography, personal use is generally permitted in some rooms but restrictions apply, so check the signs. The shop sells books on Baltic history.