Idea

The history of Vilnius is so complex, interesting, and rich that any researcher, tour guide, or person interested in the past can never stop finding something new and exciting. When telling the stories of old Vilnius, it’s sometimes necessary to refer to a specific place or house. However, this can be very difficult as many of Vilnius’ old addresses (used until 1945) don’t match today’s ones. And it’s not only the street names—the numbering of the buildings can also be different.

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Finding old addresses

Which old towns’ houses were home to people who made a mark in Lithuanian history? Where were the editorial offices of the most important newspapers? Where did notable events take place? To find the answers and pinpoint specific houses, you may need to explore historians’ works, academic articles, or monographs. In more complex cases, searching for an old house number may also require analyzing archival documents, newspapers, diaries, and other historical sources.

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Challenges

Searching for an old address takes time, skill (for instance, knowing Russian, Polish, German, Yiddish, and other languages spoken in the old Vilnius), and a bit of luck. Some researchers may feel like fish in the sea while digging up an old address. However, many of us often feel lost without knowing where to start or are unable to devote enough time to extensive research.

„Adresų istorija“

The project aims to collect data about Vilnius’s old addresses (used until 1945) in a single map and make it easily accessible to everyone. We believe that this quest is only possible with the help of the Vilnius city community.

Our values

Community

Openness and volunteering

Historical accuracy and respect

The idea of the “Adresų istorija” map comes from the historian’s daily work routine, which is full of challenges and difficulties that we often have to navigate alone. However, we think mutual support, fellowship, and knowledge sharing can become a hallmark of the entire community of Vilnius history researchers.

We believe that every historian has an obligation to share the treasures they’ve recovered from historical oblivion with the broadest audience possible. The ability to enjoy the discoveries of one’s own and others, the willingness to share, and the merits of volunteering are the values that unite the members of this project.

We are committed to academic accuracy and respect other historians’ work, which is why all the information on the “Adresų istorija” map is linked to the sources.

Project phases (planned)

Developing the platform

Developing a methodology for collecting information and verifying sources.
Analyzing and testing technical solutions.
Searching for map volunteers and processes testing.
Uploading data and launching the “Adresų istorija” website.