Documentary and other material related to the customs history is accumulated and displayed here.

The permanent exhibition constantly displayed at the museum reminds of the events having historic significance and presents the main stages of the Lithuanian customs development.

The fragments of the activities of the Lithuanian customs during 1919-1940 memorialised in the documentary material as well as the photographs reflect the processes of development, changes, improvement of the customs and reveal its role and position in the economic life of the state. The exhibits acquaint the visitors with activities of the first customs heads and employees; it is also possible to see models of customs buildings, drawings as well as work tools used at that period.

The other part of the exhibition presents the activities and the status of the Lithuanian customs after its re-establishment in 1990. The documentary material and photographs reflect activities and leisure of officers of the Customs Department and territorial customs offices. The regularly expanding division of souvenirs given to the Lithuanian customs and the Museum by other countries on various occasions confirms the developing relations with the customs and other institutions of foreign countries.

Visitors’ attention is also attracted by exhibits that are not typical of other museums –items connected to small-scale smuggling.

One more part of the Museum exposition acquaints with the aggression of the Soviet Army, OMON troops against Lithuania’s independence as well as the tragedy of July 31^st, 1991 at Medininkai road post. Personal belongings , documents and photos of the tragedy victims – customs officers Antanas Musteikis, Stanislovas Orlavičius, Ričardas Rabavičius and Tomas Šernas who was heavily injured during the aggressors’ attack as well as Mindaugas Balavakas and Algimantas Juozakas, officers of special division "Aras", Juozas Janonis and Algirdas Kazlauskas, road police officers, and border guard officer Gintaras Žagunis who was killed at Krakūnai border post on July 19^th, 1991.

During commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy a museum-memorial was opened in the territory of Medininkai old road customs post of Vilnius territorial customs office (located on the 37^th kilometre of Vilnius-Minsk highway). The renewed post wagon in which seven officers of the Lithuanian customs and police were killed as well as items used by them during service are exhibited at the memorial.Customs official V. Baublys created a wooden sculpture of Rūpintojelis (the Cross) that has been also placed at the place of tragedy.

The old unit of the Museum at the old Medininkai road post is getting more and more known to the public: students who visit it receive peculiar lessons of patriotism there, guests arriving from foreign countries are taking a big interest in it and it also attracts attention of individual tourists and their groups.

The Museum is not only taking care of enriching the exhibition with historic material,- thematic exhibitions on various occasions of the Lithuanian customs as well as exhibitions of art, folk workmanship, needlework of customs employees and members of their families as well as other exhibitions related to the customs activity area are also arranged there.

Every year new valuable historic and documentary material is added to the possession of the Museum. Customs offices and other institutions provide assistance in this work, and the material is also acquired from individual persons. Employees of the Museum hope to collect the missing material about activities of the customs during the Soviet period which should be interesting for the visitors.

For more detailed information, please contact the Customs Museum in Vilnius: tel.: (8-5) 279 63 46.