Exhibition “Krišjānis Valdemārs. Latvian. Icebreaker”

The exhibition “Krišjānis Valdemārs. Latvian. Icebreaker” is dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Krišjānis Valdemārs (1825–1891), which has been included in the UNESCO Calendar of Anniversaries for 2025. The exhibition is on view at the Small Exhibition Hall of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation from 4 December 2025 to 2 August 2026.

The exhibition’s creators invite visitors to explore Krišjānis Valdemārs as a key figure in the formation of Latvian national self-awareness, a promoter of maritime development, and an advocate of societal modernization, while also encouraging reflection on the relevance of Valdemārs’ ideas in a contemporary context.

From Valdemārs’ wide-ranging activities, the exhibition highlights three key areas: his contribution to the Latvian National Awakening and the formation of the nation, his work in the development of maritime schools and shipping, and his efforts to address the land question. A central element of the exhibition concept is the model of the icebreaker named after Krišjānis Valdemārs. It serves as a metaphor for Valdemārs himself,  a person whose ideas and actions broke new paths for fellow Latvians and for the future of Latvia.

The exhibition features objects, original documents, and reproductions from the collections of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music, the Latvian National Archives (Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents and the Latvian State Historical Archives), as well as the Estonian National Archives.

Discussion Series “Everyone Has Their Own Valdemārs”

The opening discussion marked the first event in a broader discussion series that will continue at the museum. Future discussions will focus on the contemporary relevance and vitality of Valdemārs’ ideas. Information about upcoming discussions will be shared on the museum’s social media channels.

Exhibition Credits

Content and Concept Authors:
Ilona Celmiņa
Margarita Barzdeviča
Nadīna Rode

Artistic Concept:
Reinis Suhanovs

Project Manager:
Ilze Zīgerte

The exhibition was made possible with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF).