Dannenstern House

The House of the Blackheads (Latvian: Melngalvju nams, German: Schwarzhäupterhaus) is a building situated in the old town of Riga, Latvia. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried merchants, shipowners, and foreigners in Riga. Major works were done in the early 17th century, adding most of the Mannerist ornamentation. The sculptures were made by the workshop of August Volz. Additionally, it is the site of the first decorated Christmas tree, which was erected in 1510. The building was bombed to a ruin by the Germans on June 28, 1941 — a week after the launching of Operation Barbarossa — and the remains were demolished by the Soviets in 1948. It was rebuilt between 1996 and 1999 with funds provided by Valērijs Kargins, the president of Parex Bank. Part of the funds donated were from all the people who wanted to participate in the rebuilding process, by joining in the event ''I build the House of the Black Heads'', where by donating 5 lats (approximately 7-11 EUR) they could symbolically put a brick on the wall. There were more than 5,000 participants. The House of the Black Heads was officially opened on December 9, 1999. Today the House of the Blackheads is a museum. In the upper level are located grand ballrooms, where historically many luxurious events happened — welcoming ceremonies for kings, queens, presidents, and also many cultural events — balls, classical music concerts, theatre performances, and operas with many world famous guest-stars. On another floor it is possible to visit the historic cabinets — a temporary work-space for the President of Latvia, who moved the Presidential residence to the House of the Blackheads from 2012 to 2016, while the permanent location in Riga Castle was under reconstruction. The historical cellar is the only original part of the building which survived World War II and during the Soviet Occupation. Until the early 1990s it was buried underground and not visible. The historic cellar is one of the few places where it is possible to walk through an authentic underground of Old Riga, where the remains — wall fragments, floor and even the wooden stairs are original, and some of that is dated as far back as the 14th century. This was former storage for goods and part of it was space for a hypocaust or warm air furnace. Today there are interesting, interactive exhibitions relating to commerce in Riga and the history of the Brotherhood of Blackheads.

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs) is a museum and historic educational institution located in Riga, Latvia. It was established in 1993 to exhibit artifacts, archive documents, and educate the public about the 51-year period in the 20th century when Latvia was successively occupied by the USSR in 1940–1941, then by Nazi Germany in 1941–1944, and then again by the USSR in 1944–1991. Official programs for visits to Latvia of top level representatives of other countries normally include a visit to the Museum of the Occupation.The institution also operates an exhibition in the Corner House - the former KGB headquarters in Riga. After 10 years of reconstruction work, a new permanent exhibition was opened to the public on June 1, 2022. A day before the exhibition was attended by the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, and the Minister of Culture, Nauris Puntulis.

St. Peter's Church (Latvian: Svētā Pētera Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca, German: St. Petrikirche) is a Lutheran church in Riga, the capital of Latvia, dedicated to Saint Peter. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.

The Latvian Museum of Photography is a museum in Riga, Latvia devoted to photography. It is a division of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation and has been open since 1993. The museum is situated in a 16th century merchant building. In the exhibition halls there are renovated colorful wall paintings and historic parquet flooring. The building is located near the Riga Film Museum and the Latvian Sport Museum on Alksnaju street in one of the oldest building areas of Riga dated from year 1500. The author of the permanent exhibition Development of Photography in Latvia. 1839 – 1940 is the historian Peteris Korsaks who has worked for many years in the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation and the Latvian Museum of Photography. The exhibition is installed on the second floor, and temporary exhibitions are exhibited on the third floor. Temporary exhibitions of Latvian and foreign photographers, and scientific conferences, are organised. Works from the museum's permanent collection are also exhibited. An authentic painted background used in the photo studio of photographer Martins Luste in Mazsalaca in the beginning of the 20th century can also be viewed. In addition to the permanent and other exhibitions, museum staff offer tours, lectures and consultations.

The 1998 Riga bombings were a series of bombings that took place in Riga, Latvia and which received considerable coverage at the time, most notably for their connection with fascist groups and the perception of an increase of fascism in Latvia. The United States government offered to help to locate the suspects, calling the acts "cowardly," and then-Latvian Prime Minister Guntars Krasts condemned the bombings, calling them an attempt to destabilize the country.At 1:50 am on April 2 a bomb exploded in Riga's old town outside the 92-year-old Peitav Synagogue, the only surviving working synagogue in the city, causing severe damage to the building and surrounding area. The bomb, which was supposedly planted by fascist extremists, was reportedly placed on the front steps of the synagogue building. The bomb caused extensive damage, including tearing out the 90 kg oak door, destroying all the windows and casings of the basement and first and second floors, and leaving deep gouges in the wall. There were no casualties. Four days after the April 2 bombing, another explosion caused damage to the Russian Embassy in Riga. As with the April 2 explosion, there were no injuries. The cause of the blast was plastic explosives detonated in a trash bin. The attack was linked with a rise in nationalist and extremist actions that seriously unsettled relations among Latvians, Jews and Russians. Alexander Udaltsev, Russia's ambassador to Latvia, joined Latvian leaders in blaming the incident on those trying to drive a wedge between Russians and Latvians. The Russian Foreign Ministry controversially blamed the bombing outside its Riga embassy on "anti-Russian hysteria recently produced in Latvia and the encouragement of nationalism and extremism" and called for drastic measures to punish those who were guilty. A few days after the Riga bombings, a monument to Latvian victims of the Holocaust was defaced in the port town of Liepāja.

The Peitav Synagogue or Peitav-Shul (Latvian: Peitavas ielas sinagoga; Yiddish: פאייטאוו שול) is the only synagogue in Riga to have survived the Holocaust and to be currently active. It is a center of the Latvian Jewish community and recognized by the Latvian government as an architectural monument of national significance.The Synagogue was built 1903-1905, designed by architect Wilhelm Neumann in an art nouveau style. When Riga's synagogues were burned in 1941 by the Nazis and their Latvian collaborators, the Peitav Synagogue was the only one to survive because of its location in the Old Town, adjacent to other buildings. Subsequently, during World War II, the synagogue was used as a warehouse.Under Soviet rule, the Synagogue was one of the relatively few allowed to remain open in the Soviet Union. After Latvian independence was restored in 1991, the Synagogue was damaged by bombings in 1995 and 1998.A restoration of the Synagogue, partly funded by the European Union and by the Latvian government, was completed in 2009. The dedication ceremony was attended by Latvia's president Valdis Zatlers and prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis as well as by Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.

The Latvian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design is an arts museum in Riga, Latvia. The museum was established on 1 January 1989 and opened to the public on 6 July 1989. It is located in the former church St. George's Church, Riga, the oldest surviving stone building in Riga. The opening and closing plenary of the Northern Future Forum gathering of UK, Nordic, Baltic prime ministers was held here in 2013.

St. George's Church (Latvian: Svētā Jura baznīca) used to be a catholic church in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The church building now houses the Latvian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design and is situated at the address 10/12 Skārņu Street.

Riga Film Museum is the only museum of its kind in Latvia. It holds various exhibitions that display different aspects of cinema art, actors and film history. The museum was founded in 1988 and is located in two buildings: an 18th-century building located on 10 Peitavas Street in Vecrīga, and the building of Eduards Smiļģis' Theater Museum on 1 Talsu Street in Pārdaugava.

Kaļķu iela (Lime Street) is a street in the medieval old town of Riga, Latvia. The street begins at the central square Rātslaukums and goes to the North East as far as the boundary of the historical centre. Brīvības iela and Brīvības bulvāris form a continuation of Kaļķu iela.

The Convent Yard (Latvian: Konventa sēta) is situated in Riga, Latvia, and originates from the first half of the 13th century. It is some of the oldest part of Riga that has been preserved.

St. John's Church (Latvian: Svētā Jāņa Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca) is a Lutheran church in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The church is situated at the address 24 Skārņu Street.