In 1871, the street was named Griaznaja ulica (Purvinoji Street) in the design plan. The townspeople did not quite like the newly proposed name, so the old one was used almost until World War I.

In honour of field marshal Paul von Hindenburg, Germans baptized this street in his name.

After the war, the name Posadnoji was restored.

In 1924, the name Pagyžių Street was approved, although many residents found it unfit. It was not until 1940, after the death of Kazimieras Venclauskis, a lawyer who lived on the street, that the city council named the street after him.

When the German occupation began, the name of the social democrat K. Venclauskis was inappropriate; therefore, in 1942, the street was named after Vytautas. The latter name remained unchanged during the Soviet period.

Kuršėnkelis (Kuršėnai Road)

During the occupation of Imperial Germany, the current Vilniaus Street in Šiauliai was broken into two parts: of Šeduva and Kuršėnai. When the city was occupied by Imperial Germany, the Germans divided one of the city’s longest streets into two parts: the section from Lake Prūdelis to the current Tilžės Street was called Szadow Strasse (Šeduvos Street), and from Tilžės Street to the Hill of Rebels, Kurszany Strasse (Kuršėnų Street).

Jonas Krikščiūnas Jovaras

A Lithuanian poet, booksmuggler, one of the most active distributors of forbidden press during 1897-1904. The participant of the revolution between 1905-1907. Was repeatedly persecuted and arrested by the police for active activities. In 1918, the revolutionaries elected him to the Council of Kairiai Workers’ Representatives. He kept a bookstore for young people, which was also used by Juozas Grušas as a child. During 1911-1945, lived in Kalniškiai, was engaged in agricultural work. In 1946, moved to Šiauliai.

Started writing poems being encouraged by Povilas Višinskis. Most poems were written between 1904 and 1910, which is why they reflect both youthful moods and the revolutionary pathos of that time. When the revolution began in 1905, agitation phraseology of social democratic press began to prevail in poetry. Many of his poems, such as “Ko liūdi, berželi?”, “Tylus, tylus vakarėlis” have become folk songs.

The house where the poet lived at Vytauto St. 116 remained.

The Venclauskiai House-Museum

The Venclauskiai house was built in 1926. The author of the house design is the famous architect Karolis Reisonas.

During the interwar period, the people of Šiauliai called this building the White House. The building belonged to the Venclauskiai family until 1944. During World War II, S. Venclauskienė and her daughters harboured Jews of Šiauliai in their home, hiding them on the basement floor and in the attic.

Since 1957, the building has been handed over for the use of Šiauliai Aušra Museum. In 1991, Danutė and Gražbylė Venclauskaitės donated their parents’ house “for eternal use for museum purposes”.

The Owners of the Venclauskiai House Kazimieras Venclauskis and Stanislava Jakševičiūtė

K. Venclauskis graduated with a degree in law from the University of Tartu and worked in Riga. In 1908, he moved to Šiauliai to practice law. He met his future wife Stanislava Jakševičiūtė (1874-1958) in 1902 and got married in Riga. Both were active people involved in Lithuanianness activities, participated in various national revival campaigns, were among the organizers of the evening parties gegužinės in Šiauliai district, Aleksandrija. Under cover of the evening parties were people were dancing, singing, intellectuals secretly spoke about the future national state being built. K. Venclauskis was the first burgomaster of Šiauliai, a member of the Constitutive Seimas, First and Second Seimas.

S. Jakševičiūtė – the first Lithuanian professional actress and director. Graduated from St. Petersburg and having returned to Šiauliai, performed in the Russian theatre troupe, organized activities herself.

In 1899, she directed the first Lithuanian performance of Juozas Vilkutaitis-Keturakis “Amerika pirtyje” (“America in the Bathhouse”) and played the main role. The performance was shown in Palanga during the press ban, and in 1904, it was also brought to Šiauliai.

In 1904, the situation was still complicated, it seemed that the performance will not take place in Šiauliai. Thanks to the eloquence of the Venclauskiai, the performance was shown, and it was a great success.

Another interesting fact is that in the performances directed by Stanislava, not only she but also the famous lawyer K. Venclauskis played. He was a serious, solid man but also had an artist’s vein, his wife managed to involve him in her initiatives.

S. Venclauskienė was also an active public figure. She took great care of children, participated in the activities of various societies, was a member of Šiauliai City Council.

The Venclauskiai Family

One hundred children raised, educated and let out into the world is only one merit of the Venclauskiai family. Foster children were surrounded by the Venclauskiai with such warmth and love that their daughters did not feel being exceptional in any way; one of them only at the age of 10 or 12 found out that she was a real daughter of the Venclauskiai, not a foster child. Although K. Venclauskis tried to limit the number of foster children and asked not to have more than 30 children sitting at the table at the same time, this rule was not always successfully followed.

The Venclauskiai sheltered, raised and let out into the world about 100 children. This large family was more Stanislava’s initiative – Kazimieras himself might not have chosen such a large family, but he was a democratic and tolerant man, so he supported his wife’s choice. Stanislava would admit children to her home without any selection. Maybe an outsider would say that gifted children should have been taken, educated, but Stanislava did not understand that. She would shelter those in need without any questions.

Children in the Venclauskiai family felt very good, they were very warmly received, and a democratic atmosphere prevailed at home. Stanislava not only provided housing for her foster children but it was very important for her to provide children with science and knowledge. She had great opportunities for that: when the boys’ gymnasium was being built, Stanislava’s father donated part of the plot to its construction. An agreement was concluded that two generations of this family will have the right to study at the gymnasium for free. Stanislava brought the desire to care for others from her family. The Jakševičiai also took care of several homeless children, it can be said that Stanislava inherited goodness from her parents.

The City’s First Hospital – Šiauliai Jewish Hospital

The Jewish community opened a modern hospital on what is now Vytauto Street. It is known that its construction was supported by Chaimas and Dora Frenkeliai. The hospital was spacious and light, the building was equipped with water supply, the patients were cared for by merciful nurses, and the poor were cared for by a care society established here. The entire hospital complex consisted of a two-story brick building and two other wooden buildings housing a pharmacy, a chemical laboratory, a laundry room, and premises for storing inventory.

During the interwar period, the Jewish community decided not to use the hospital only for treating Jews; therefore, the building was rented to the city municipality, providing conditions for treating people of other nationalities. There were 5 doctors working in the eighty-bed hospital that treated about 1,5 thousand patients every year; treatment was paid.

The Cents Room. Farewell to the National Currency – Litas

As the introduction of the euro was approaching, artists and representatives of non-governmental organizations implemented the idea of a monument to the Lithuanian currency – the Cents Room. During the events of Šiauliai Days on August 29-30, 2014 and Šiauliai Nights on September 12-13, people of Šiauliai gathered carrying cents and litas and full of ideas on how to use that money creatively. Everyone who brought a cent or litas of any denomination and contributed to the campaign was entered in the book. The finished book with 2500 signatures of Šiauliai residents and guests from other Lithuanian cities, foreign countries Latvia, Germany, Portugal, Poland, China, etc. was left in the Cents Room for future generations.

The director of Šiauliai University Library Gražina Lamanauskienė, who agreed to help implement the idea of the Cents Room, designated a room in the library. The project involved all library staff, university students. Cents were also glued by kindergarten children together with their educators, national defence volunteers, pupils, elderly people, representatives of non-governmental organizations, members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, members of Šiauliai City Council, staff of Šiauliai City Municipality. People from all Lithuania came to glue cents, and those who did not have such possibility sent cents by post.

Walls and ceiling of the room were glued with cents, a symbolic throne was built too. A huge one litas coin and the Lithuania’s map were hung above it. The whole area of the map was covered with white cents, settlements were glued with coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents, while cities were designated by metal litas coins.

Another exhibit of the Cents Room is the Vytis Cross, made from ten litas silver coins.

On March 5, 2015, coins of the Cents Room were counted – it took 1 hour and 40 minutes for 14 students of Šiauliai Vocational Training Centre. A special committee was set up to record the results. It was announced that the Cents Room was made from 157 130 coins comprised of 93 437 pieces of 1 cent coins, 31 145 pieces of 2 cent coins, 29 877 pieces of 5 cent coins 606 pieces of 10 cent coins, 414 pieces of 20 cent coins, 192 pieces of 50 cent coins, and 52 pieces of 1 litas coins. The total value of coins is 3 305 litas and 65 cents. Protocols signed by the committee were passed on to the Lithuanian Records Registration Agency Factum.

The Waterworks Museum

The construction of the water supply tower began in 1939 according to the sketches of the Professor P. Morkūnas and some of A. Janulionis’ working drawings. During the Nazi occupation, the construction of the water tower was suspended. At the end of June of 1945, the construction works were resumed. The tower construction works were led by the engineer Jonas Vencius. The intermittent tower construction lasted nine years, until 1948.

In 1948, the tower was filled with water from the first Lepšiai Water Supply Station in Šiauliai, which was put in operation on October 30, 1948, which is the official date of establishing waterworks. Until 1991, the water tower was used for water supply. In 1991, it was disconnected from the water supply network.

In 1974, to perpetuate changes in waterworks, achievements of people working here, the waterworks museum was founded on the ground floor of the tower. In 1983, it was granted a name of a public museum.

The museum is unique in that its exposition circles around the perimeter of the round tower in the area of about 100 square meters. Rich and varied museum exposition reflects the company’s history, development of the city’s water supply and sewerage, modernization of the company’s facilities, and traditions of the company’s staff.

Photographs of the early 20 century, which can be considered the rarity of the museum, are among the most interesting exhibits. Relics do not only tell both about water supply and sewerage construction process but also reveal part of Šiauliai history. No less interesting are collected and preserved work tools, instruments, models of facilities.

The Cross on the Façade of the Water Tower

The repair works of Šiauliai water supply tower revealed a long-kept secret – a cross hidden under plaster. The construction of the water supply tower was started in 1939 according to the sketches of the Professor P. Morkūnas and some of A. Janulionis’ working drawings. The works were interrupted by the war, and the construction of the water tower was resumed in 1945.

The construction of the red brick tower, begun between the wars, was continued with light bricks. According to the recollections of V. Rimkus, moving from one colour to another, the bricklayers laid a red cross facing Vasario 16-osios Street. The masons built the cross as a contradiction to the atheist propaganda – a symbol of resistance to the occupation. The cross was there until someone noticed and later, plastered it.

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Juventa Progymnasium

Šiauliai city’s 12 secondary school with enhanced music education opened its doors for the first time on September 1, 1971. During the academic year 1999-2000, teachers chose a new name and it became Juventa Secondary School. Now, Juventa Progymnasium.

Until the end of the 8 decade, the school was experimental. Music teachers’ activities during the lessons and in artistic expression groups have always been the focus of the city, republic, foreign scientists, theoreticians-methodologists, music teacher practitioners, and other stakeholders.

In 1980, Vladimir Levin, the director of Moscow Central TV, taking interest in the musical life of Šiauliai city, made a documentary entitled “Daina lieka su žmogumi” (“The Song Remains with a Man”). The fragments of music lessons led by teachers E. Motuzienė, N. Valužienė, J. Lygutas were used in this film. In the 1990s, similar profile schools were legitimated in other cities and districts.

S. Volpertas’ Clinic. X-Ray Machine.

Between the wars, the doctor Simonas Volpertas lived on P. Višinskio Street. He had opened a private hospital for skin and venereal diseases in his house.

In order to maintain the confidentiality of the clinic’s patients due to the sensitive nature of health problems, the building was designed so that clinic visitors could not meet each other. S. Volpertas was one of the best specialists in skin and venereal diseases in Lithuania. It is stated that he was the first in Lithuania who acquired and used an X-ray machine in the clinic.

The Observatory on the Roof of Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University

You don’t have to go to Molėtai at all to see what a real observatory looks like. In the very heart of Šiauliai, on P. Višinskio Street, a curious passer-by catches sight of the dome rising above the buildings of VU Šiauliai Academy and hiding a telescope of the university’s Astronomical Observatory. Due to not very favourable geographical location (anyway, it is the city centre), the observations take place mainly for training purposes. V. Jankus, the head of the Observatory of VU Šiauliai Academy, introduces to the constellations, celestial lights (planets, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies). It is also possible to view celestial bodies with a

telescope. You can even observe the Moon.

Graffiti Nešantys žinią (Carrying the Message). On the Wall of the Editorial Office of a Daily Šiaulių kraštas.

Šiauliai artists Reda and Arūnas Uogintai created a wall painting on the building of the editorial office of Šiaulių kraštas, called Nešantys žinią. According to A. Uogintas, the work of art symbolizes that information travels through the media. Notre Dame de Paris on the façade reminds that culture is the most important part of national consciousness, its essence. The birds give hope that pieces of the puzzle ornament can be assembled.

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When the County Police set up in the building next to the church, the street was called Policijos Street.

The German occupation authorities first used the name Polizei Strasse and later renamed it Bažnyčios Street (Kirchen Strasse) because the street abutted on the side of the church. In 1919, when the names were Lithuanianised, the street was called by both names.

From 1924, the name Bažnyčios Street was left. After the flight of pilots Darius and Girėnas, the street is given their name. In 1948, it is already called Gegužės 1-osios.

After the restoration of independence, the previous name Dariaus ir Girėno was not returned because such name was given to the street in Lieporiai residential area. Since 1989, it has been named Vasario 16-osios.

Šiauliai State Theatre

The issue of establishing a theatre in Šiauliai was repeatedly raised on April 28, 1929. At that time, the idea of organizing the theatre in the province was loudly discussed in Kaunas as well. The Society of Art Creators delegated the actor of the Kaunas State Theatre J. Stanulis and the artist A. Varnas to discuss this issue with the representatives of Šiauliai society (K. Šalkauskis, J. Sondeckis, J. Naujalis and P. Bugailiškis). At a meeting held in the premises of the city board, it was decided that the administrative and financial affairs of the future Šiauliai theatre would be taken care of by the established society to support the theatre, while the supervision of the artistic part would remain in the hands of the Society of Art Creators.

In 1931, the State Theatre directorate was instructed to establish its own branch in Šiauliai.

A wooden warehouse for theatrical scenery was attached to the Cinema Kapitol, adapting these premises to the drama theatre. On September 23, 1931, the Šiauliai branch of the Kaunas State Theatre raised the curtain. The theatre chose K. Gozzi’s fairy tale “Princess Turandot” directed by B. Dauguvietis for the opening.

Jonas Šliūpas

Jonas Šliūpas (1861-1944) – a doctor, writer for the newspaper Aušra, public figure. He organized the Lithuanian Association of Freethinkers and published the magazine Laisvoji mintis (Free thought). He actively participated in the activities of illegal Lithuanian press, organized during the press ban, and for some time edited the first Lithuanian newspaper Aušra. Went to the US, graduated with a degree in medicine. Upon his return to Lithuania in 1922, he

settled in Šiauliai. A year later, he opened a printing house here. From 1930, he established himself in Palanga. He was the first burgomaster of this city. In 1944, withdrew to Germany. There he died. In 1947, his ashes were transported to the Lithuanian National Cemetery in Chicago.

The printing house Titnagas was one of the most important and largest in the whole region of Samogitia.

It is no coincidence that Dr. J. Šliūpas chose the name Titnagas (Flint) for his printing house. By striking flint into the blade, Lithuanian peasants would obtain a spark to start fire and light. Fire and light are humanity’s greatest benefactors, without which life would be dark, dreary, and poor. Flint is a symbol of fight against darkness, of warmth, bliss, finally strength, hard and persistent work and fighting.

Šiauliai City Municipality

Šiauliai City Municipality is located in three historical buildings. One of them, in which the first Lithuanian performance was shown in 1904, was called Liaudies auditorija (the Folk Room) at that time. The building was opened in 1902. There was a hall accommodating 500 listeners, a tea house and a reading room. It was rented out for lectures, meetings, and performances.

During the press ban, when Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire, culture became a way to express resistance to Tsarism. In the last decade of the 19 century, secret so-called Lithuanian evening parties took place, which had become part of the national revival movement. In Šiauliai, they took place under the guise of gegužinės (public parties with music, dancing and singing outside), which from 1894 were held in Aleksandrija and other manors of the Zubovai. From 1899, gegužinės turned into gatherings of intelligentsia, in which, in addition to discussing relevant problems of public life of that time, concerts and performances took place.

On October 3, 1904, the Šiauliai Theatre lovers performed a comedy “Amerika pirtyje” (“America in the Bathhouse”).

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The section of the street from the old market place towards Vilniaus Street was called Mokyklų Street (Školnaja ulica), while the other part that went downhill was called Sakalininkų Street (Sokolnickaja ulica). The street in the city plans of 1871 and 1902 has already one name – Nikolajaus Street (Nikolajevskaja ulica). Most probably, this was influenced by the stay of the Russian Tsar Nicholas I in Šiauliai in 1838.

During the years of World War I, Germans gave the street the name Turgaus (Markt Strasse). During this war, almost all buildings on the street burned down; after the war, the street was named Rinkos Street.

There were clothes and hat sewing shops; workshops of furniture, signage, musical instrument repair, tin processing; the cartridge case factory Ryga; shoemaker tools, leather, clothing, small haberdashery, meat, iron, clay pots, medicines, hops, flour, tobacco, glass and dishes were traded here.

In 1924, changing the names of the city’s streets, the street got the name Varpo. Before World War I, in the territory of the former central post office, the cultural organization Varpas Society had set up. In 1952, the street was renamed to Komunarų, and in 1989, the name Varpo was returned to it.

The Great Choral Synagogue

The decoration of Varpo Street was the Great Choral Synagogue. The city’s first wooden synagogue was built and opened on the site of the current drama theatre in 1749. According to the data of 1903, there were three masonry and eight wooden synagogues in Šiauliai. At the end of the 19 century, an impressive brick synagogue was built next to Market Square on what is now Varpo Street. Due to the graceful shapes of white plastered facades it was called the White Swan. Destroyed during World War I, the synagogue was rebuilt in the interwar period. It suffered greatly during World War II and was demolished after the war.

Theatre Poster Sufleris (Prompter)

It is built on Boulevard of Vilniaus Street near Varpo Street. Only a few steps from here stands the drama theatre.

Reminds of a double-sided notice-board. At the top, it is adorned by the mask of the patron of comedy Thalia on one side and by the mask of the patron of tragedy Melpomene on the other. The “prompter” himself, as befits him, is hiding from the audience. However, the most curious

can see him: all you have to do is take a look through the slit from the side what is under the prompter’s “shell” at the bottom of the notice board. On one side, the “prompter” is adorned with an earring in the ear; and on the other side, with an earring in the eyebrow.

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The Chocolate Museum

In 1913, Antanas Gricevičius, a former employee of Vilnius Chocolate and Sweets Factory, established the Sweets Factory Rūta. He bought a large plot of land in the city centre with a garden and a house where he set up a sweets workshop. The factory was founded with only five workers. A. Gricevičius made sweets himself and took care of product advertising.

In 2012, the Sweets Factory Rūta, which was attracting passers-by by the sweet smells of chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts and boiled berries for almost a century, opened the door of its old building to visitors. Namely here, in the old building of the factory, the Chocolate Museum of Rūta was founded.

The exposition of the museum does not only present the interesting history of the factory but also reveals the secrets and peculiarities of four millennia of chocolate consumption.

Julius Janonis Gymnasium

In 1838, first efforts were made to set up a gymnasium in Šiauliai. Two plots of land were purchased for this purpose. Landlord I.Vitkevičius agreed to demolish the abandoned Pašiaušės Jesuit Church that belonged to him and until spring of 1845, to take its bricks to Šiauliai for the construction of the gymnasium.

In 1851, the solemn opening ceremony of Šiauliai Gymnasium took place. From the establishment of the gymnasium until World War I, it was called Šiauliai Boys’ Gymnasium.

In 1946, it was given the name Julius Janonis. Since 1954, the gymnasium is both for girls and boys. In 1965, it was granted a status of a gymnasium with a humanitarian profile.

Stained Glass Saulės mūšis (The Battle of the Sun)

The stained glass Saulės mūšis is in the Concert Hall Saulė (the former cinema). Three of the second floor lobby walls of the Soviet architectural building were adapted for the stained glass.

The stained glass that is 3,8 meters high, 52,1 meters long and occupies the area of 200 square meters was unveiled in 1986 to commemorate 750 years’ anniversary of Šiauliai city.

It is an impressive and majestic piece of art, the first monumental work of art of such theme and scale in the country. The stained glass is dedicated to the fight of ancient Lithuanians, it reveals tension and dramatism of that fight. Visual and colour rhythm of the stained glass sound solemnly, like organ music.

The building with a spacious lobby in front of the audience hall and its three glass walls – one front and two side walls – determined the compositional structure of the stained-glass.

The author of the stained glass, artist Kazys Morkūnas aimed to symbolically and artistically give a sense to the Battle of the Sun, disclose fighters’ heroism, strength, and determination.

St Apostles Peter and Paul’s Cathedral

The monument of Renaissance architecture St Peter and Paul’s Cathedral is the city’s most striking landmark. It as if shows the visitor where the city centre is.

The cathedral does not only dominate due to its impressive height (the apex of the tower reaches 70 meters) but also because of its convenient and well-chosen location.

The construction of the new church started around 1617. It is considered that it was initiated by the Samogitian bishop Mikalojus Pacas, while the key sponsor was the governor of Šiauliai Crown Estate Jeronimas Valavičius. Construction works were led by the dean of the church, the graduate of Vilnius Academy Petras Tarvainis.

On October 8, 1634, the bishop of Samogitia Jurgis Tiškevičius consecrated the new church of Šiauliai. Thanks to these people, a meaningful epithet “the greatest in all Samogitia”, describing the beauty and majesty of the church’s architecture, was heard on the lips of the Samogitian bishop Motiejus Valančius in later centuries.

Interestingly, the church tower had a mechanical clock installed for the money of the city residents.

The image of the architectural monument of the 17 century slightly changed over time. Wars and storms devastated the church time and again. Every few decades the church was repaired, renovated.

Prisikėlimo Square (Resurrection Square)

The central square of the city is divided into 4 parts by Aušros Avenue and Tilžės Street. This is the place around which the city of Šiauliai started growing. For centuries, the square was used for markets, fairs, live trading.

Interestingly, this oldest square of the city, the heart of the city, did not have an official name for a long time: it used to be called just Market, Market Square. Only in 1938, the square was assigned the name Laisvė (Freedom). In 1948, it was called Pergalė (Victory). In 1998, by the

decision of Šiauliai City Council, the city’s central square was labelled Prisikėlimo (Resurrection) in the honour of the Resurrection District of the Lithuanian partisans’ resistance, to which Šiauliai partisans also belonged. The square symbolizes the resurrection of the nation.

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In the plans of 1871 and 1902, the street was marked as Malaya Sadovaya (Mažoji Parko Street), but this name did not take root. Until World War I, people called this street Dvornaja ulica (Dvaro Street).

During World War I, Germans named the street boundary from Vytauto Street up to the turn to Gubernija brewery Schloss Strasse (Rūmų Street), and after the war, a Lithuanian name Dvaro was given to it. In the plan of 1928, the sections branching from the territory of Gubernija brewery to the streets of Žemaitės and J. Basanavičiaus are called Gubernijos Street, and in the plan of 1934, the whole route of the street is already called Dvaro Street.

Gubernija Manor

The beginnings of Dvaro Street are Gubernija Manor.

The lands of Gubernija Manor covered the area from Joniškis Highway to Račiai village in the north and Voveriškės village in the west. The central mansion of the manor was built on the shores of the former Lake Vinkšna, next to the current Gubernija brewery. The centre of crown estate – Didždvaris Manor – was connected to Gubernija Manor House by the still existing Dvaro Street. After World War I, most of Gubernija Manor was expropriated by the Lithuanian government. The liquidation of Gubernija Manor was completed only in 1928. The central mansion and the manor workers’ house burned down during the war, the area of 470 ha around these buildings went to the city of Šiauliai, and the forest of Gubernija went to the Lithuanian government.

Didždvaris

Didždvaris Manor

It is believed that the current Didždvaris Manor was built after the reconstruction of a distillery built in the 18 century. The building acquired the current architectural expression after several reconstructions of the manor in the 19 century. Only few authentic interior elements of the building have survived to this day: the lobby columns, the white tiled stove, and the basement vaults.

Didždvaris Manor house was built as the central residence of Šiauliai Crown Estate. The mansion was also an important cultural and educational centre. At the end of the 19 century, a secret and later, a public library operated here. In the second half of the 19 century, the Citizens’ Club set up in the manor that was also a venue of festive evening parties on the weekends and gatherings of the city’s intelligentsia.

Stables

A two-storey stone masonry manor stable was built in the early 19 century but it soon lost its main function and was equipped for the needs of various institutions.

In 1875, the former stable was transformed into a children’s shelter under the auspices of Aleksandra Zubovienė.

In 1920, Šiauliai County Municipality established a public library in one of the rooms of the building, which was moved out from here a year later.

Between 1922 and 1936, the former stable of the Zubovai housed various divisions of the District Court. When the court moved to a new building on Aušros Avenue, the building went to the Riflemen’s Union and its library.

During the Soviet period, the District Court re-established and is still operating in the building.

The Kitchen

It is likely that this building belonging to the building complex of Didždvaris Manor was built together with the manor in the 19 century. The documents of the manor of that period refer to it as a kitchen. Along with the gradual transfer of manor buildings to the city’s public needs, the manor kitchen also lost its function. In the interwar period, it housed an exemplary primary school that belonged to the Teachers’ Seminary as well as the headquarters of Kaunas Duke Vaidotas 8 Infantry Regiment.

Jackus Sondeckis. A Burgomaster of Šiauliai City.

One of the most prominent personalities lived in Dvaro Street – the burgomaster of Šiauliai, public figure Jackus Sondeckis. The house of J. Sondeckis’ family stood between Dvaro and A. Mickevičiaus streets. After the first democratic elections to the city council in Šiauliai on February 20, 1925, the social democrat J. Sondeckis was elected the burgomaster of Šiauliai.

J. Sondeckis-Sonda held the position of the burgomaster of Šiauliai between 1925-1931. During the years of his leadership, Šiauliai healed the wounds of war, many new public buildings were built, social, health care and educational institutions were established, and social care issues were settled. When for political reasons J. Sondeckis as a social democrat was not allowed to participate in municipal elections, he worked as a director of the Šiauliai Health Insurance Fund, built Pageluvys camp for the children of the poor.

Nurokas’ Bank

The bank building of brothers Nurokai stood at the corner of Dvaro and Vilniaus streets. In 1933, they had 300 depositors. When the leather factory of brothers Nurokai was on the verge of bankruptcy, Nurokas’ Bank used depositors’ contributions to cover production losses and for brothers’ personal needs. Although brothers Nurokai knew that their factory was operating at a loss, seeking to attract depositors, they announced that they were making particularly much profit. After the fraud was discovered, brothers Nurokai were demanded to return 3,7 million

litas to depositors and the bank’s house was declared bankrupt. During World War II, the building burned down.

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According to the reconstruction plan of the city’s central part of 1783, it was built from the newly planned Market Square to the manor complex up to Dvaro Street. Later, most likely after establishing the residence of counts Zubovai, the street was named Sadovaja ulica (Parko Street), which during the German occupation was germanised and called Park Strasse.

After World War I, the Lithuanian name Parko Street was left, and the street was extended. The second route of the street ended at the current Žemaitės Street. The third section of the street extended up to the then Exhibition Square, the current V. Kudirkos Street.

The new part of the street together with the entire Parko Street was named Aušros Avenue, marking the 40th anniversary of the newspaper Aušra.

During World War II, the beginning of Aušros Avenue up to Varpo Street suffered most damage, all buildings on Prisikėlimo Square were destroyed.

In 1955, on the occasion of the 75th birthday, the street was named V. Kapsuko Street. At the beginning of the Revival in 1989, the name Aušros Avenue was restored.

The Mordeliai House

In 1938, a four-storey brick building meeting all standards of the city was built on the corner of Dvaro Street and Aušros Avenue in Šiauliai. It was probably the largest residential house in Šiauliai city. The author of the design of the building is not exactly known, supposedly, it could have been the work of engineer Anatolijus Rozenbliumas.

The owner of the house Hiršas Elijas Mordelis was the general director of Frenkelis’ Leather Factory and joint stock company Batas. The luxury house with flats for rent was equipped according to the latest technical fashion of the time. Four-room or five-room flats with auxiliary premises had all amenities, and the elevators installed in the house were the first in Šiauliai.

The Police Commissariat Building

At Aušros Avenue No. 19, Šiauliai Regional Court House was built. The design of the building was prepared by the engineer Kazys Krisčiukaitis.

The then press of Šiauliai half-jokingly, half-seriously wrote that the Regional Court House was called the largest building in Šiauliai as it had over three hundred doors.

The extensions to the building were built around 1968-1979. Between 1945-1989, the second floor of the old building housed the Šiauliai branch of the KGB.

The structure of Šiauliai City Police Commissariat consists of the criminal police, public police (police stations), and administrative units.

Stasys Nosys

Stasys Nosys is the city’s legendary personality. In 1926, loading a wagon with gravel, he got under the wheels of the wagon that started moving and lost both legs but did not lose strong will, determination – he exercised, nurtured his muscular body. Among workers, he was a symbol of strength, endurance, and persistence. Having lost his legs, S. Nosys did not break and began lifting weights. The mighty man would soon win both arm-wrestling and finger-pulling competitions.

Together with his friends Mikuckis and Ramanauskas, S. Nosys gathered a troupe of circus performers and started performing at Šiauliai Šviesa Cinema; for some time, the troupe also worked in Kaunas Circus.

It is said that S. Nosys would break stones with his fist and lift a truck with people, weighting one and a half tons, off the ground in stadium squares.

Later, the then authorities forbade S. Nosys to appear in the circus because of complying with false propaganda that there were no disabled people in the Soviet Union.

The Architect Vladas Bitė

Vladas Bitė was born in the village of Mažuoliai, Pašušvys Rural District, Kėdainiai County on May17, 1901. He had two brothers and two sisters and was the fourth child in the family.

He studied at Šiauliai Gymnasium, and after graduating it, he entered the Technical Faculty of the University of Lithuania. In 1928-1930, working as a construction technician in Šiauliai, V. Bitė prepared and defended his thesis “Šiauliai City Sewerage”. On February 17, 1930, he was awarded a diploma in civil engineering; and on April 1, appointed an engineer of Šiauliai city. Working in a position of the city engineer, V. Bitė was actively involved in the city planning and infrastructure development process, supervised the construction of sewerage and water supply networks, and designed a lot.

In 1944, as the front was approaching, the engineer and his family moved to the West.

From 1950, V. Bitė with his family lived in Melbourne. For two years he worked here as an architect for a firm that built houses for the families of soldiers returning from the war.

V. Bitė died in Melbourne on December 9, 1969.

The Primary School and the Aušra Museum. Aušros Ave. 47.

In 1932, a primary school building designed by V. Bitė was built on a new section of Aušros Avenue.

The engineer designed a two-storey building with an attic for a school with ten classes, but only half of the building was used for school purposes. The second floor of the building temporarily housed the Aušra Museum. It was planned that it would be sheltered here until a building intended to it is built. When the construction of the museum and library building

according to the design of the architect Karolis Reisonas was suspended, the attic of the school was also adapted for the needs of the Aušra Museum.

In 1943-1944, the building housed a German military hospital. During World War II, the building was heavily damaged by fires, repaired after the war, and in 1966, given back to be used for museum purposes again. Currently, the building houses the Šiauliai History Museum.

The Šiauliai Manor Homestead (The Zubovai Manor)

After the third division of the Lithuanian-Polish state, the Empress of Tsarist Russia Catherine II gave Šiauliai Crown Estate with its central manor to her favourite Platonas Zubovas (1767-1822). The governance of Šiauliai city and Didždvaris became closely linked with the Zubovai family until the very beginning of the 20 century.

During the rule of the Zubovai, in the second half of the 19 century, the manor was rebuilt in the style of classicism, farm buildings were transformed, adapted for residential or public use.

During the press ban, Didždvaris had become one of the distribution points of press in Lithuanian font, smuggled from East Prussia. In 1921, the park and Kaštonų Avenue were officially donated to Šiauliai City Municipality. When the Zubovai stopped living in Didždvaris, the buildings were reconstructed and adapted for institutions. In 1924, there were a total of 38 buildings. In 1926, extending Aušros Avenue, crown estate buildings that were no longer in use and in 1934, the manor gate were demolished.

In 1978, the manor housed the Faculty of Drawing and Technologies, which was then established at the then Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute. The building of former stables was reconstructed and adapted to function as a courthouse. After the reconstruction, the former house of servants serving the manor housed public organizations.

The City Treasury

The building is located in the very centre of Šiauliai, in its historical part. It is one of the few surviving historical buildings in Šiauliai. Built in 1907-1908, it is a building of early 20 century historicism. The architect of this building is Stanislovas Kačkovskis. In the beginning, this building housed the city treasury “Lobyno saugykla” (“The Treasury Repository”). It was a special place where the assets of the state were kept, money was paid out. In 1919, an Executive Committee of Šiauliai County Council of Workers’ Representatives was established in the building. Later, in the interwar period, the Šiauliai Branch of the Bank of Lithuania set up. At the intersection of Aušros Avenue and Dvaro Streets, at this house, stood a classicist-style Didždvaris Gate to the manor, also called Aušra Gate.

Kaštonų Avenue

The only Kaštonų (Chestnut) Avenue in Šiauliai, intervening between Aušros Avenue and Vilniaus Street, is more than a hundred years old. This avenue is the old main driveway to the Zubovai Manor and Park from the old Kuršėnai Road (now, Vilniaus Street). Vilniaus Street was the main road that passed through Šiauliai. There was a drive into the manor via Kaštonų Avenue namely from this street. During the construction of the girls’ gymnasium (the current Didždvaris Gymnasium), this entry was eliminated, but Kaštonų Avenue was left.

Supposedly chestnuts were first planted in Šiauliai in the middle of the 19 century. Then the representative clump of Didždvaris was planted with chestnuts and the avenue appeared. About the beginning of the 20 century, the Zubovai Park and Kaštonų Avenue were depicted in old postcards showing that the avenue was connected to the old park and it was surrounded by a stone fence, the remains of which still stand near Didždvaris Gymnasium. Around the beginning of the 20 century, the avenue began to be called Kaštonų Avenue.

About 1921, the old park near the Zubovai Manor and Kaštonų Avenue were officially donated to Šiauliai City Municipality. This area was planted with chestnuts that would attract the townspeople in the spring by its beautiful greenery.

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Nowadays, the name of the street also reflects its function: merging into Dubijos Street, Stoties Street connects bus and railway stations.

St George’s Church

The current St George’s church was built in 1909 for the funds of the Tsarist Government of Russia as the Russian Army’s church. The church was built on the plot of land of the Jakševičiai, which at that time belonged to Stanislava Jakševičiūtė-Venclauskienė, without the legal ownership basis. Her husband, a prominent lawyer Kazimieras Venclauskis initiated a lawsuit and won it: the plot had to be returned; and the church, taken away. After the intervention of the Ministry of War, the agreement was reached and the church was left in its place.

During the years of World War I, the church that fell into the hands of the German occupation authorities was turned into a weapons warehouse. After the war, the church was given over for the spiritual needs of the 3 Regiment of the Lithuanian Army.

In 1919, the church was consecrated, the name of St George the Martyr was given to it.

The church was passed onto the bishop of Samogitia. In 1923, the parish rights were granted to it.

Sweets, Chocolate, Marmalade and Coffee Factory Birutė

In 1911, sweets, chocolate, marmalade and coffee factory Birutė in Stoties Street was founded. The owner Vladas Vaitkus, the former seller of Juknevičius’ food store, was a very talented and shifty merchant. He opened his factory for only 500 roubles – supposedly borrowed as well. The owner called the first sweet met with great commercial success “Dul-dul-dūdelė”.

After World War I, the factory produced 175 types of sweets. The goods were taken to the city and province by a promotional vehicle. There were factory shops in Kaunas, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. The production was exported to the USA, Germany and Denmark. He raked in several gold medals at Lithuanian exhibitions. Birutė was awarded a silver medal at the world exhibition in London in 1928.

The Jewish Elementary School Talmud Torah

The current building at Stoties Street 11 housed the Talmud Torah – a two-storey brick school for children of poor Jews, opened with Frenkelis’ money in 1899. Its basis was religious subjects and knowledge of primary education. Its curriculum equated two classes of the Jewish folk school. The school had four teachers. According to data of 1902, 116 children studied here. After World War I, the school was named the Jewish school.

The Square in Stoties Street

Monument Pirmoji diena (The First Day)

This monument is dedicated to the enlightened person, teacher, publicist and public figure, author of school textbooks Jonas Murka (1889-1945). J. Murka who lived and worked most of his life in Šiauliai is a creator of the national school and the author of 19 books. In 1928, for his educational work he was awarded a fourth-degree Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.

The First Day is a monument not only to Jonas Murka: it is probably the first monument to the Teacher in Lithuania. The sculptor from Vilnius Džiugas Jurkūnas was maturing the idea to perpetuate the memory of the great-grandfather for a long time and was very pleased for the opportunity to implement it in Šiauliai. The monument was designed and built with the private funds of Jonas Murka’s grandchildren and great grandchildren in 2015.

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Šiauliai became involved in the development of self-governance straight after announcement of independence. During the years of the first Republic of Lithuania, namely Šiauliai created the first democratic municipality in Lithuania. Thus, it was not surprising that, not even a month after the proclamation of the Independence Act, Šauliai authorities already gathered to the first session of the city’s Council of People’s Deputies (soon renamed as the council of Šiauliai municipality), where they elected a chairman who, after a couple of weeks, was replaced by the elected mayor of the city.

On September 7^th, 1993, on his way to the Hill of Crosses (Jurgaičiai Mound), located near Šiauliai, Pope John Paul II visited, prayed and rested in Šiauliai. Following this visit, by his special decree, Šiauliai Peter and Paul’s Church was given the title of the Cathedral, this way transforming Motiejus Valančius’ words about the Cathedral of Samogitia that stood here for 400 years in his times, into reality; the Diocese of Šiauliai was set up.

From 1993, the ‘Aušra’ Museum begins to expand rapidly and takes over the Radio and Television and Bicycle Museums and Ch. Frenkelis’s Villa. Upon completion of reconstruction works of the Villa, which were started in 1995, the Villa becomes a new cultural-representative place, the centre of most of the city’s high culture events, hosting exhibitions in its premises and the inner courtyard, a place of meetings with artists, concerts, performances, and art festivals. In 2009, according to the project prepared by the ‘Aušra’ Museum for the funds of Lithuania and Norway (according to the Norwegian financial mechanism), Žaliūkiai windmill, one of the most important accents of Šiauliai city landscape and the centre of ethno-culture and traditional crafts, and the 19^th century miller’s farmstead, standing nearby, were restored and adapted to the public needs. In addition to these projects, the Museum completed the reconstruction of one of its units, the Museum of Photography, adding the top floor and turning the Museum into a four-storied building with an open-air terrace on the roof open for visitors and events. This is the only institution of this kind in Lithuania, dedicated to the art and equipment of photography.

In 1997, upon the decision to reorganize Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute and Šiauliai Polytechnic Faculty of Kaunas University of Technology, Šiauliai University was established. Over the years, the higher education institution grew, joining new spaces, turning them into its divisions and, at the same time, established close international relations with other universities of the world, becoming a significant player in the city’s region.

The Zokniai airport belonging to the city serves both military and civilian purposes. The traditions of Šiauliai as a national defence point, known since the Middle Ages, remained: there is a military air base at the airport, where since 2004, NATO fighter aircrafts patrolling the air space of the Baltic States have been deployed. In addition, cargo aircrafts of international companies are taking off and landing.

In 2007, Šiauliai Arena, a multifunctional complex for sports, mass culture and chamber events, was officially opened. It hosts the city’s all biggest sports, business and cultural events, including the European Basketball Championship group tournament matches in 2011 and performances of world music celebrities.

The University, non-university higher educational institutions, the drama theatre, the ‘Aušra’ Museum, professional art groups, and a new sports arena provide Šiauliai with perspectives to remain the attraction centre of the whole region. The city fosters its history and strives to become a modern European city.

The city is created and each time reconsidered by its people, so it is people who will decide what awaits Šiauliai in the future. One after another new monuments are created for those who lived and matured as creators and as people, such as Algirdas Julius Greimas, a world-renowned scholar in linguistics or signatories to the Act of Independence of 16 February, 1918. Alongside, new scampy ideas and artistic works, creating the image of a playful and lively city, are born. These are accompanied by active renewal works, renovation of the city’s public spaces, gaining a new concept, initiated construction works of the city’s central square. Thus, the city is changing, modernizing and steadily moving in the rhythm of the 21^st century.

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Fot. Saulius Jankauskas

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Talkšos ežeras, Saulės Laikrodžio aikštė. Fot. Gabrielė Gendvilaitė.

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Frenkelis. Festivalio atidarymas

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Skulptūra Šaulys. Autorius skulpt. Stanislovas Kuzma. Fot. Virginijus Kinčinaitis.

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Šimtmetį švenčiantys Šiauliai. Fot. Gintautas Plungė.

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Šiaulių Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus katedra. Fot. Saulius Jankauskas.

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Šiauliu arena. Fot. Algirdas Musneckis.

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Šiauliečių akcija Šypsokis, Saules mieste. Fot. Aleksandr Reznik

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Rekyvos ežeras. Fot. Andrius Mačiūnas.

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Pietinis naktyje. Fot. Mindaugas Macaitis.

 

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Motokrosas. Fot. Evaldas Černiauskas.

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Miesto šventė Šiaulių naktys. Fot. Rinat Tarzumanov.

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Saulius Jankauskas ©

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The systematic activity of Šiauliai Sąjūdis movement led to shrinking numbers of pro-Soviet persons and members of the Communist Party of Lithuania from the ranks of Šiauliai city council. They were pushed by the representatives of Sąjūdis, their delegated and supported persons. People close to Sąjūdis movement began to lead the city council. Mindaugas Stakvilevičius, Donatas Morkūnas, Romualdas Ozolas, Virginijus Kačinskas, Kęstutis Lapinskas and Algimantas Sėjūnas were elected by Šiauliai people to the Supreme Council and became the signatories to the Act of March 11, which announced the fact of the Restoration of the Republic of Lithuania.

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Baltijos kelio diena Šiauliuose.

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Baltijos kelio diena Šiauliuose.

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Baltijos kelio diena Šiauliuose.

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