Address
64 Donelaicio St, LT-44248, Kaunas.
Tel.: +370-37-320765, +370-37-422146.
Fax +370-37-320765.
E-mail: V.D.karomuziejus@takas.lt
Information for visitors
Opening hours:
April – September: Tuesday to Sunday 11.00-17.00.
October – March: Wednesday to Sunday 10.00-17.00
Closed last Thursday of each month.
Admission:
Charge - Lt 4;
pupil / student / pensioner - Lt 2;
Guided tours - Lt 30–40.
Museum's collection
The museum contains archeological finds, weapons, firearms, ammunition, army uniforms of various states, objects and documents relating to the transatlantic flight of the "Lituanica", a collection of Balys Buracas' (1897-1972) ethnographic photographs.

Expositions
Pre-history of Lithuania
Exposition is currently under reconstruction.

The History of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The exposition is displayed in two halls. The first one is dedicated to the military skills of the GDL from the 13th century up to 1648. Stands of the Order of the Knights of the Cross and GDL illustrated by archaeological material and pictures, J. Styka's "Vytautas" Oath" and a series "The Grunwald Battle" painted together with his son among them, are devoted to the period of heathenish. The Grunwald Battle takes the central place of the exposition. Schemes of battles at Orsa and Salaspils, some weapons, pictures of knights, a peculiar set of cuirass from the 17th cent, a copy of a Swedish gun reflect events of 1430-1648. In the center of the hall copies Radvilos' guns and ordnance of the 16th-17th cent. are displayed in their full splendor.
The exposition in the second hall represents the history of the Lithuanian Army during the period of 1748-1795
Reproductions of uniforms, examples of weapons, music instruments and artillery are displayed. Due attention is given the wars on the territory of Lithuania in the 18th cent. The end of the exposition reflects reforms of the Four-year period (1788-1792) and the uprising under T. Kosciuska's guidance.
Exposition of the History of Military Skills of Lithuania (1795-1940).
The 1812 War;
The 1830-1831 and 1863 Uprisings;
World War I;
Exposition gives emphasis on the following events in the history of Lithuania:
Events of 1812 in Lithuania and the way of struggle of the Lithuanian national units in French and Russian armies;
Uprisings of 1831 and 1863 in Lithuania;
Lithuanian soldiers in the Russian army in the 19th beginning of the 20th cent.
Lithuania and the World War I;
Defense of the fortress in Kaunas in 1915;
Organization of Lithuanian units in the Russian army in 1917;
Restoration of the Lithuanian military forces in 1918-1920 and struggle for independence;
Development of the Lithuanian army in 1920-1940, military technique.

Weapons History
A wonderful collection of weapons and cuirasses has been accumulated in the museum. A part of it is introduced in the exposition of the history of weapons having preserved traditions and the style of the inter-war period. The most interesting examples of blank weapons are displayed: arbalests, bows, a collection of shaft weapons, sets of cuirass from the 16th cent. and representational shields of the 18th-19th cent. acquired from the countess Capskiene in the 4th decade of the 20th century. Copies of Lithuanian guns of the 16th-17th centuries, evolution of the light firearms from the 15th century up to Word War II are demonstrated.

"Lituanica" Exposition
Exposition devoted to pilots' S. Darius' and S. Girenas' flight across the Atlantic Ocean with the airplane "Lituanica".
Memorial exposition demonstrates fragments of the plane, pilots' personal things, photographs, and documents.
Having taken off from the airport in New York on July 15, 1933 and having crossed the Atlantic ocean the pilots died on July 17 in Germany, in the environs of Soldin (now - the Republic of Poland).
This flight is significant in the history of the world aviation by the fact that the pilots covered 6 411 kilometers without landing and stayed in the air 37 hours and 11 minutes. This is the second result in the world having in mind the distance of the flight and the fourth - having in mind the time spent in the air. During the flight airmail was officially carried from the North America to Europe for the first time.

The Crypt to those Perished for the Independence of Lithuania The crypt was opened on November 23, 1938 following painter's M. Dobuzinskas design. The walls of the room and the ceiling are covered with black marble, among them plates of white marble are placed with golden inscriptions of the names of people having died for the freedom of Lithuania, as well as the dates of their death.
During the Soviet regime the crypt was closed, on November 23, 1998 it was restored and reopened.

Undergruond Printing-House "ab" Address: Saliai Village, LT-54376, Domeikava Prefecture, Kaunas Region. Tel. +370-37-553249.
In 1980, Vytautas Andziulis founded an underground printing house next to his home – dug seven meters down.
During the Soviet occupation, twenty-five individually titled publications were secretly printed and distributed at the underground printing house. These publications contained patriotic as well as religious content, having their own significant importance throughout Lithuania’s struggle for freedom. Although the printing house worked regularly during the Soviet period, it was never detected. Nowadays, published texts as well as all the equipment to produces such publications are on exhibition at the museum.
Exhibitions
Archaeological exhibitions, exhibitions on the history of military skills of Lithuania, history of diplomacy of Lithuania, history of culture of Lithuania etc. are organized in the museum.
Museum's departments
Department of registration and protection of the collections. Tel. +370-37-320 709.
Department of archaeology. Tel. +370-37-321 248;
Department of the history of military skills of GDL. Tel. +370-37-222 847;
Department of the history of military skills.
Department of the history of military skills of the newest age. Tel. +370-37-209 620;
Department of public relations. Tel. +370-37-320 939.
The museum accumulates, keeps, restores, investigates and propagates monuments of the Lithuanian nation and it's fights for freedom and independence of the Lithuanian State, displays telling about the history of Lithuania, evolution of weapons and military attributes, valuables of material and spiritual culture reflecting the history of Lithuania and other states, the art of military skills from the oldest time to our days.

Museum's history fragments The museum was founded in 1921 by the general Vladas Nagevicius (1881-1954), who became its director.
The museum was founded in 1921 in a wooden manage of the Cossack regiment of the Don and is one of the oldest museums in Lithuania.
The founder of the museum - Vladas Nagevicius (1881-1954). He was the director of the museum for a number of years. Corner stone of the new building of the museum was consecrated in 1930. The same year the museum was named after Vytautas Magnus
On February 16, 1936 a new building of the museum was opened.
On July 25, 1940 the museum was deprived of the name Vytautas Magnus.
On January 29, 1990 the real name was returned to the museum.

Historical Survey of Kaunas
People have been living since long, long ago in the place where present day Kaunas stands, at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. The chroniclers mention the settlement, which grew up to Kaunas town, in 1361. Towards the end of the 13h century, with the purpose to defend itself from the Crusaders' attacks a brick castle was built and became an important part of the town defense system. After Vytautas the Great granted the Magdeburg rights to the town, Kaunas began to grow at a greater pace, the importance of the town as the center and the port for the trade with Western Europe increased. With the signing of Hansa agreement in 1441 the merchants of Hansa town opened an office, which was active until 1532. Already in the 15th century the first school, public hospital, chemist's shop were opened. At the end of that century Kaunas became one of the best-formed towns of the Lithuanian Kingdom.
17-18th centuries were especially unfavorable to the town. The reasons of it were various disasters: attacks by Russian army in 1665, Swedish march to Russia in 1701 during which the Lithuanian land was devastated, plaque in 1657 and 1708, and fires in 1731 and 1732.
At the end of the 18th century Kaunas economics revived until the war of 1812 fell and Napoleon army crossed the Nemunas River in Kaunas. The town was devastated twice during that war. The end of the 18th century's famous of many achievements that supported the development of the town industry and trade - Oginsky canal that connected the Nemunas and Dnieper rivers was opened, railway connecting Russian Empire and Germany was built in 1862, the first power plant began to function in 1898. However, the construction of the forts around Kaunas, which lasted from 1882 to 1915, impeded the growth of the town. The First World War stemmed the further development of Kaunas. The representatives of various nationalities and authorities governed Kaunas until 1919.
When Russian occupied Vilnius in 1919, the State Council and Cabinet of Ministers were established in Kaunas. In 1920, when Poland broke the Suvalki agreement and occupied Vilnius, Kaunas became the temporary capital and the most important city of Lithuania. In the same year a Constituent Seimas gathered in Kaunas and laid the basis for the country's legal system. Kaunas expanded greatly, the population increased significantly, industry flourished and many main industry branches of Lithuania were developed the years of independence. Construction prospered, many buildings were reconstructed, new significant architectural monuments emerged, and bridges were built across the Nemunas and Neris rivers, linking the neighborhoods of Aleksotas and Vilijampole with the center. In 1924 the first busses appeared in Kaunas, and in 1928 plumbing was installed. However, this period of the city prosperity was ceased by the damages made by soviet occupation.
When Vilnius regained the title of the capital city after the war, Kaunas became the second biggest city in accordance to the size and population. The city, devastated by the war, was under reconstruction, but the same time soviet occupants started to demolish and destroy everything that reminded the life of the independent Lithuania. One of the first public protests against the Soviet rule was in 1972, when Romas Kalanta set himself on fire in the square in front of the Musical Theater of Kaunas.
In 1988, upon the rising of the liberation movement, many city sights were revived: street, square and museum names were returned, many monuments of independence times were restored. When the Soviet army attempted to encroach upon the newly independent Lithuania in 1991, the residents of Kaunas kept watch at the Sitkunai radio and television transmitter, willing to give their lives for their country's freedom. After the Soviet Army was withdrawn from Lithuania, all sorts of opportunities for the developments and co-operation with foreign countries opened for the city. The people of Kaunas will never forget the Pope's visit to Kaunas. Today Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania