Liepaja in the 19th century
Hall 4
The layout “Liepaja in the 19th century”. 19th century Liepaja began as an insignificant province town with approximately 5000 inhabitants, about 900 buildings, a port – which constantly became dirty and polluted , the severe shortage of transport communications and great quantity of skillful artisans. At the end of the century Liepaja was inhabited by almost 65000 dwellers, had a modern port, railway communication and industry. About 300 original items, works of art, photos and documents recount that time period and its transformations. One of the most outstanding and prominent the Classicism period’s sculpture monuments – the cemetery bronze bas-relief, made by the student of Torvaldsen E.N.K. von der Launic (1797 – 1869) – is the sculptor’s dedication to his brother aide-de-camp G. von der Launic, who perished in the battle of Nations in 1813.
The period of time beginning with the 70-s of the 19th century is deservedly called Paul Max Berchi (1840 - 1911) period in Liepaja construction. Volumetric Berchi family’s construction projects archive is kept in the museum’s collection, a part of which is exhibited at the layout.
Favourable seaside climate and sea water rich in salt were gradually turning Liepaja into widely popular seaside resort. Not once were Russian royal family’s representatives on a visit here. For instance, in 1862 Tsar Alexander II and his spouse stayed in Liepaja. The tsar’s gift to Liepaja is exhibited at this layout – two filigree cast knights – eastern and western – sculptors.
Paintings of Liepaja views of the first half of the 19th century, whole 19th century’s silver coins in use collection, the cap once worn by the very city’s head could all be found at the layout. Amongst the most interesting exhibits, indeed, Union cyclist community’s bicycle, whose front wheel is 125 cm in diameter, can be found at this layout.
