The Small Museum

This room was decorated at a later stage—possibly during the time of the second Jonas Žurauskis. Here, we see Neo-Gothic motifs characteristic of that era. There are two windows topped with Neo-Gothic window heads, and two doorways framed by Neo-Gothic surrounds. As this is a walk-through room with limited natural light, trompe-l’œil stained-glass windows—complete with matching Neo-Gothic heads—have been painted on the inner wall to create a sense of coziness and the illusion of light. The ceiling features Neo-Gothic moldings and ornaments. Unfortunately, the room is in dire need of restoration to reveal the beauty that was concealed during the Soviet era.

In the days of the Žurauskis family, this room served as the dining room; today, it houses a museum. The collection—comprising antique household items, printed materials, and various artifacts from the Adomynė area—was begun in the last century by activists from the Adomynė village community, led by former cultural worker Rima Lapienienė. Every item brought here has an interesting story and holds its own unique value. The objects are arranged to create the cozy atmosphere of a traditional home interior, making the space feel less like a museum exhibit and more like a living room. Here you will find objects and implements ranging from the painfully familiar to those that come as a complete surprise to some: clocks, lamps and lanterns, telephones, televisions, radios, a sewing machine, charcoal-heated irons, washboards and ironing boards, dowry chests, an old-fashioned bed with a traditional woven coverlet, wooden travel trunks, and even a machine for pressing and binding books.