The Lithuanian museum of Ethnocosmology is the first and only museum of such type in the world. It was established in 1990 on the initiative of the astronomer Gunaras Kakaras and the ethnologist Libertas Klimka. The main task of museum is to collect, preserve, and research the information on the relationship of a man and mankind with the Cosmic World and to provide it to the visitors.

The permanent exhibition at the Lithuanian museum of Ethnocosmology acquaints with miscellaneous links of ethnology with the cosmos. There are household tools and goods that reflect knowledge about the cosmos, telescopes, meteorites, the cosmos photos captured by artificial satellites, ancient calendars and works of art. The culmination of the exhibition is a viewing platform offering a panorama of the surroundings of Aukštaitija.

The unique architecture of the museum is the mythological World Tree embellished with cosmic forms. The underground gallery represents the roots of the tree, the towers – the trunk, and the viewing platform – the top of the tree.

In what way can the cosmos be related to ethnology? Is it possible that the cosmos is so close to us? Although it seems unbelievable, having looked around, you may find diverse manifestations of the relationship of mankind with the cosmic world. The magnificent brightness of celestial bodies has been exciting the mind and feelings of a man at all times. The Sun, the Moon, stars, their inter-relationship and the impact on humanity are reflected in our nation’s religious beliefs, folk and traditional art.