Exhibition Hall at Rīgas 34, Rūjiena

The Exhibition Hall is located at 34 Riga Street and occupies the old rectory horse stables. The rectory burned on September 21, 1944 during the retreat of the German army. One horse lived in the stable until 1989. Architect Inese Fridrihsone designed plans to rebuild the stable as a home for art and history in 1992.

Historical exhibitions include the impressive czarist era vault with the brand name Stauģen Rīga. The vault houses historic church books as well as a miniature of Rūjiena Church altar saved by local Erna Kapzeme. One of the most valuable acquisitions is complete sets of the newspapers Rūjienas Ziņas, Rūjienas Balss, Rūjienas Domas, and Rūjienas Vēstnesis published during the first era of independence, as well as Minister Roberts Slokenbergs' correspondence, and a collection of historical photos. The attic is the permanent home of painter and world traveller Arvīds Strauja's works. The collection also contains 85 plaster works by sculptor Jānis Zariņš.

In the Exhibition Hall, visitors can find the answers to questions such as: How can one tell the difference between an inhabitant of Rūjiena and other Latvians? Why does painter Arvīds Strauja continue to live in Glendon Hills even though he has passed on? What was Reverend Roberts Slokenbergs' shortest sermon? What are Gulbene's swan and Ventspils' bust of Lenin doing in the Exhibition Hall?

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