In the summer house of Ieva Simonaitytė – authentic household and entertainment

The Ieva Simonaitytė Memorial Museum, opened after reconstruction, invites visitors to take a look around the house where the famous writer and colorful personality from the Klaipėda region spent her summers. The exhibition presents authentic 20th century Dec. 7-8 furniture, accessories, tells about the journey of a Lithuanian woman to the peak of writer’s fame and reveals the most interesting stories of the summer house.

Time has stopped

Ieva Simonaitytė (1897–1978) is one of the most famous writers of the Klaipėda region, coming from a family of poor Lithuanians. “Three great Lithuanians? Who are they? Donelaitis, Vydūnas, Simonaitytė? Well, just not Vydūnas! Only not Vydūnas!.. – says I. Simonaitytė in the conversation described in Ona Pajėdaitė’s biographical book. True, he changes his mind later. – What’s good anyway? okay? Of course he had this too. Vydūnas also did a lot of good. Chorus organized societies, prepared plays. The entire Klaipėda region was mobilized and united. It saved me. Yeah yeah! I felt needed. Looks like I got wings. We are grateful to him for that…” This dialogue tells a lot about the famous I. Simonaitytė, who was distinguished by her colorful character.

The writer’s memorial museum was located in her summer house in Priekulė the following year after I. Simonaitytė’s death. The writer herself called the homestead a “corner of paradise.” Akvilė Eglinskaitė, head of the I. Simonaitytė Memorial Museum branch, says that the older generation knows the writer’s work well, but young people often have not even heard of it. “We aim to get young people interested in this literary classic as well, who might want to read her books after visiting here,” hoped A. Eglinskaitė.

The authentic 20th century has been preserved in the summer house. Environment of the 7th-8th decades: furniture, paintings, souvenirs, gifts, textiles, crockery, writer’s clothes, various household items. The writer’s home library can be viewed in the study room, where photos, documents, first editions of all I. Simonaitytė’s books are exhibited.

I. Simonaitytė, who suffered from osteoporosis as a child, spent a lot of time in bed, did not attend school, herded geese, and her mother taught her to read and write. The girl did not have a father, from the age of fourteen she was sent to a hospital for crippled children and came back stronger, but had to live separately from her mother, who started a new family, moved away, and Ieva stayed to work as a seamstress in Vanagai. I. Simonaitytė was sensual, she revealed herself to people she trusted, but towards the end of her life she was even called arrogant. The story has been made public that the first time she didn’t even let film documentarian Algirdas Tarvydas and director Robert Verba, who came to Priekulė to make a film about her, into the house.

Current visitors are much more fortunate – the summer house of I. Simonaitytė opened its doors wide to everyone. Daiva Bliūdziuvienė, the elder of Priekulė, is convinced that the renovated museum perfectly integrates into the cultural life of the city. “The aspiration to make the city a tourist attraction is being fulfilled,” she was happy.

with the funds of the European Union structural funds in 2018-2019. the capital repair of I. Simonaitytė’s summer house was carried out for more than 139 thousand. euros. Since it is included in the Register of Cultural Values, the authenticity of the building was preserved during the restoration, a new tile roof was laid, the summer house was insulated, windows and doors were replaced, lighting, heating, water supply and sewage systems were modernized.

Offers a variety of activities

The writer sincerely loved roses, so in 2021, the museum started the tradition of planting them in the courtyard of the summer house while jointly creating the I. Simonaitytė rose garden. The beginning was given by thirty rose petals, which were brought and planted by the residents of Priekulė, representatives of various institutions.

“The museum closely cooperates with local communities, cultural, educational and social institutions operating here. We are visited by various age groups: members of the University of the Third Age, groups of care homes, schoolchildren and individual visitors from all over Lithuania. We also provide on-the-go educations in schools or other places”, said A. Eglinskaitė.

Visitors are invited to take part in the excursions “Things that remind you of the everyday life of the summer house”, “I. Simonaitytė’s success story and creativity”, in the educational programs “Don’t forget who you are”, “Rožė and Bulka”. An educational route “Āvė takais” has been prepared and is offered to visitors, which can be traveled with a guide or using the informational publication prepared by the museum.

“Last year, in commemoration of the writer’s 125th anniversary, the Education Week program was implemented, and it is planned to continue this measure this year as well. This year, the book club “Marios laiko” brought together by the people of Priekulisk started to operate in the museum, where we share impressions of the books we have read over a cup of coffee”, said A. Eglinskaitė and invited the residents of the neighboring districts to visit as guests.

More information about the offered activities, events, working hours can be found on the website www.gargzdumuziejus.lt and on the Facebook account “Ieva Simonaitytė Memorial Museum. A branch of the Gargžda Regional Museum”.