Museum and cafe for the House of Signatories in Vilnius

  • 2001-02-22
  • Rokas M. Tracevskis
VILNIUS - On Feb. 16, 1918, the Lithuanian Council unanimously approved the declaration of the re-establishment of the independent state of Lithuania. The declaration was signed at 26 Pilies Street (formerly, Didzioji 30) in Vilnius. The building still stands and today it houses a museum called the House of Signatories.

During the Soviet occupation, a confectionery store and canteen were set up on the first floor and flats took up the other floors. Historical studies of the house and its true significance began in 1990, when Lithuania declared its independence. The building was restored to its 1918 style in 1998.

"We restored all the decor and furniture according to photos of the house at the beginning of the 20th century," Jurate Cerniauskiene, director of the House of Signatories, told The Baltic Times.. "There is a copy of a table on which the declaration was signed. We are planning to open a cafŽ on the first floor soon."