Exhibition “Valka - the Cradle of Latvia’s Independence”
Museum
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The Valka Local History Museum is located in Valka, on the right side of Rīgas street, in the historical building of the Vidzeme Parish School Teacher Training Seminary. From 1853 to 1890, the building was home to the Vidzeme Parish School Teacher Training Seminary. Until 1881, it was led by Jānis Cimze, a teacher and founder of Latvian choir culture. After the School Teacher Training Seminary was closed, the building served various educational, cultural and household needs for 80 years. The building has been home to the Valka Local History Museum since 1970. The museum’s permanent exhibit – ‘Valka, the Cradle of Latvia’s Independence’ – has been set up as a story about social and political events in Valka from 1914 to 1920 when Latvia became an independent state. The exhibit reflects the preparation leading up to the establishment of the Latvian state and the formation of the North Latvian Brigade in Valka. Through four senses, namely, the Road, the Council, the Headquarters and the Home, the exhibit focuses on topics related to the city of Valka, refugees, the founding of the Latvian Farmers’ Union (1917), the
Latvian Provisional National Council (1917), the Latvian Provisional National Theatre (1918), the Provisional Government of Soviet Latvia known as the Iskolat, the North Latvian Brigade (1919) and General Pēteris Radziņš. In addition to the traditional ways of showcasing collections, the exhibit makes use of interactive multimedia solutions.
Used sources and references:
Valka Local History Museum
Educational programs
"Valka - Cradle of Latvian Independence" educational program
The story of social and political events in Valka from 1914 to 1920.
Related timeline
Related topics
Related stories
In memory of Pēteris Radziņš, general of the Latvian Army, two-time Cavalier of the Lāčplēsis War Order
General Pēteris Radziņš was born in Lugaži parish, Valka district, into a simple farmer's family, where he learned to do field work. He was a very smart young man, after graduating from school he decided in favor of war and thus began his army career, saving Latvia from Bermont's troops. P. Radziņš was one of the most outstanding officers of the Latvian army and was awarded numerous Latvian and foreign orders and commemorative signs.
From Ádolfs Ers' book "Vidzeme in the Struggle for Freedom" about the refugees' journey in Valka
Starting from the time of the refugees, Valka was given a more important role than other cities in Vidzeme, because it was home to the politically active newspaper “Līdums”, where Latvia’s spiritual and political weapons were forged, and also because it was a crossroads where roads from three sides of Latvia converged: from Riga, Alūksne, Mozekile, and also from Estonia and Russia. It had connections with refugees from all sides – Tartu, Pliska, Moscow and St. Petersburg. There was a large refugee center here.