Bārta Museum

Bārta Museum emerged from the idea of Jēkabs Rūsiņš (1917-1994), a local history enthusiast, journalist and poet, by then retired. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1985. The basic exhibition displayed here focuses on “The Traditions of Making and Wearing Bārta’s Folk Dress in the 19th - 21st Centuries”. Only here, at the museum, you will have the chance to hear stories about the elements of Bārta’s folk dress and try wearing one yourself. You will also be able to tests your weaving skills on a historic loom. In cooperation with Bārta’s ethnographic ensemble, a musical museum education programme called “The Womenfolk of Bārta Sing” was created, which enables you to see the diversity of local folk dress, listen to the women sing and learn a song or two yourself. The museum offers 2-3 exhibitions per annum. They come from its collection and in the form of temporary loans from local residents and other parties as well as other museums.

The museum’s collection contains materials about local prominences, such as the former Minister of Agriculture, Jānis Birznieks, who served under Kārlis Ulmanis; journalist, local history enthusiast and poet, Jēkabs Rūsiņš; founder of Bārta’s ethnographic ensemble, Jēkabs Ķīburs; and such topics as local ethnographic traditions and schools.