Baltic-American Line advertising materialNational Museum of Lithuania
How did emigrants keep ties with Lithuania in the interwar years?
Lithuania was also supported by those who remained abroad.
Lithuanian-American trade joint stock companyNational Museum of Lithuania
The Lithuanian-American Trading Joint Stock Company
Some returning migrants used the capital they had earned to found companies or invest in existing businesses, trying to adapt in Lithuania the knowledge they had gained abroad.
Pilots at the aircraft hangarNational Museum of Lithuania
Pilots by the airship hangar
The Swedish officer Carl Olof Dahlbeck not only fought in campaigns against the Bolsheviks, served as an inspector for the Lithuanian Army’s Aviation Division, and instructed the country’s first aviators, he also helped draft a modernization plan for the Aviation Division.
J. Bielskis and M. J. Vinikas in front of books with signaturesNational Museum of Lithuania
J. Bielskis and M. J. Vinikas by the signature books
One million signatures bound into 140 books were collected in support of the recognition of Lithuania’s independence.
Laying the keystone of the OrangeryNational Museum of Lithuania
Laying of the cornerstone of the Orangery
A modern Lithuanian Botanical Garden was established in Kaunas in 1923.
Postcard of the Swedish American liner "Borgholm"National Museum of Lithuania
What drove new emigration and where did people go?
Almost as soon as the first wave of emigration ended, a second one developed.
Tap to explore
Explore the emigrants' office in 360
Exhibition architecture.
Postcard of the boat sales company "Susisiekimas"National Museum of Lithuania
Postcard from the "Susisiekimas" ship passage sales company
The so-called departure office “Susisiekimas” (Connection) operated between 1927 and 1940. There, one could obtain tickets to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, India and Palestine.
Postcard "Emigrants in Bremen"National Museum of Lithuania
Postcard, Emigrants in Bremen
Of the 104,000 people who departed independent Lithuania, as many as 70% were ethnic Lithuanians, 20% were Jews.
Postcard "Working on a coffee plantation"National Museum of Lithuania
Postcard, Working on a coffee plantation
Armed guards sometimes protected migrants working on coffee or sugarcane plantations in Brazil to keep them from running away.
Karolis BobkoNational Museum of Lithuania
Karolis Bobko
A Lithuanian-born NASA astronaut
Challenger STS-6 spacecraft emblemNational Museum of Lithuania
The mission patch for ”Challenger“ STS-6
Karolis Bobko piloted the space shuttle Challenger on its flight into space in 1983, NASA.
"The Z Gazette"National Museum of Lithuania
Tony Zemaitis
A third-generation descendent of Lithuanian immigrants, made guitars that were played by such rock stars as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, and many other famous musicians who appreciated his exceptional talent.
Zemaitis guitar with his trademarkNational Museum of Lithuania
Zemaitis Custom Deluxe Guitar
The Honduran mahogany body and the aerospace aluminium-plated top give this guitar an exceptional sound.
Jonas MekasNational Museum of Lithuania
Jonas Mekas
In his search for his own path, he showed the way for others, becoming the godfather of American avant-garde cinema.
Jonas Mekas film cameraNational Museum of Lithuania
Jonas Mekas’ film camera
Jonas Mekas, who called himself the godfather of new American cinema, helped shape attitude towards avantgarde films.
Antanas MockusNational Museum of Lithuania
Antanas Mockus
Mockus’ visionary approach to governance completely changed the face of Bogotá, and he became famous around the world for his methods.
"Super Citizen" costumeNational Museum of Lithuania
"Supercitizen" costume
Antanas Mockus, who served as Mayor of Bogota from 1995 to 2012, used a special strategy to encourage residents to take responsibility and change the environment in which they lived. He set an example by going out in public wearing a “Supercitizen” costume.
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