One of the oldest museums in Latgale , founded in 1938. Located in a magnificent eclectic building constructed in 1883. The facades are decorated with colored glazed tiles, and the entrances have openwork metal roofs covered by glass. Each entrance is guarded by two sculptures of lions. The museum has the room of the Daugavpils painter Leonid Baulin. The museum offers cultural, historical, and nature displays.
The Daugavpils museum history exhibition mainly focuses on the events related to the Dinaburg castle built in the 13th century and the Dinaburg fortress built in 1810-1878.
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the city begins to develop as an important industrial and cultural center. In 1920, the city gets its Latvian name – Daugavpils.
More than 85000 items are stored at the museum. The funds of the museum are rich in various collections of archaeological, ethnographical, and art items, as well as of Latgale ceramics and documents, collections of insects, and herbarium. They are authentic witnesses of the past of the Daugavpils area. Many items of the funds are put on display in permanent history and nature exhibitions, exhibitions from the funds. They are also used in educational programs of the museum.
In the exhibition “Nature of the Daugavpils area” one can see samples of flora and fauna characteristic of the area. The most widespread biotopes can be found here. Although the nature of the Daugavpils area does not essentially differ from that of the rest of Latvia, many rare and protected plants and animals that are included in the Red Book of Latvia can be found here.
Permanent cultural and historic and nature expositions of the museum, as well as the halls of M. Rothko and L. Baulins create a particular image among the museums of Latgale and Latvia.
