The History of Šiauliai in Resurrection Square: Four New Exhibition Installations Unveiled

The development of an exhibition dedicated to the history of Šiauliai continues in the Resurrection Square Observation Building. In 2026, the exhibition expanded to the second floor of the building, where four new exhibition installations presenting the development of Šiauliai in the 18th and 19th centuries have been created. Together with the first part of the exhibition installed in 2025, they broaden the narrative of the city’s growth and transformation. The installations combine reliefs of city plans from different periods with impressions of objects recreated from museum exhibits. 3D technologies were used to create both the plans and the impressions, while integrated lighting highlights their forms.
The project is funded by Šiauliai City Municipality and implemented by the Šiauliai Cultural Centre. During the development of the exhibition space project, the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum provided consultations on historical content and the selection of exhibits. Based on the prepared project, at this stage of the exhibition’s development, UAB “3D Creative” produced the 3D exhibition elements, while UAB “ZET-A-ZET” produced and installed the exhibition lighting objects and visual elements.

The location of the exhibition was chosen deliberately. The present-day Resurrection Square was for a long time the centre of commercial and public life in Šiauliai. It was home to the marketplace, a meeting place for residents and the setting for events of importance to the city. By presenting the city’s development in this location, the historical plans establish a direct connection with the square as it can be seen today.

The four new installations feature reliefs created on the basis of Šiauliai city plans from 1796, 1800–1801, 1842 and 1860. They allow visitors to observe how the city expanded and how its street network, urban development and central area changed over time. The plans are complemented by impressions of historical objects. One installation tells the story of the privilege granted on 9 November 1791, by which Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, confirmed the rights and coat of arms of the Free City of Šiauliai. It is accompanied by an impression of the seal of the Šiauliai District Land Court from 1792.

Other installations feature relief impressions of a Dutch pipe, the belt of a participant in the 1831 Uprising with a buckle bearing the image of Tadeusz Kościuszko, the cap badge of a participant in the 1863–1864 Uprising, a medal from the 1879 Šiauliai Agricultural Exhibition, a cup and a one-pfennig coin from 1874. These details complement the image of the city visible in the plans with traces of people’s everyday lives, governance and historical events.

The exhibition content was developed using the collections and archival material of the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum. The plans and impressions installed on the concrete walls become an integral part of the building’s interior. Lighting highlights their lines and fine details, while explanatory information is provided to visitors in Lithuanian and English.

The exhibition space is being developed in stages. The section installed this year is already open to visitors, while further work aims to adapt the remaining areas of the building to continue the historical narrative. “This year, visitors can already explore a significantly larger part of the exhibition. The four new installations provide an opportunity to see how Šiauliai changed and what traces of the city’s everyday life, governance and historical upheavals have survived. We hope that in 2027 we will be able to complete the entire exhibition space and present visitors with a cohesive narrative of the history of Šiauliai,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of the Šiauliai Cultural Centre.

As Šiauliai celebrates its 790th anniversary, the expansion of the exhibition represents a lasting legacy of the anniversary year. The new installations will also be there to discover for those who visit the city after the anniversary celebrations have ended.

The exhibition is intended for both individual visitors and organised groups. The Resurrection Square Observation Building is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 PM–10:00 PM.

For further information, please contact Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of the Šiauliai Cultural Centre, tel. +370 671 42 889, email deimante.baciule@siauliukc.lt.

Photo by Rolandas Parafinavičius.