Collection of the Kuldīga County Museum

The Collection and Research Department of the Kuldīga County Museum is the quiet engine behind the museum’s public exhibitions, preserving the region’s cultural memory with remarkable depth. Its roots stretch back to the early 20th century, when local historians and teachers began gathering artefacts to document Kuldīga’s unique heritage. Today, the department oversees tens of thousands of items, from archaeological finds and historic documents to textiles, tools, and rare photographs that trace everyday life in the town and surrounding parishes. One of the most interesting aspects of the collection is its focus on Kuldīga’s role within the Duchy of Courland. Archival materials reveal how the town functioned as a ducal centre, while ethnographic objects illustrate rural traditions that survived well into the modern era. The department also curates an extensive photo archive, capturing everything from 19th‑century street scenes to the transformation of Kuldīga during the Soviet period