Corner House (Stūra Maja) in Riga, Latvia

At the corner of Brivibas and Stabu streets in Riga, you will find a beautiful building with columns and balconies. Being a historical and architectural monument, it is housing the “History of KGB operations in Latvia” exposition.

The building was established in 1912 and designed by the Latvian architect Aleksandrs Vanags as an apartment building with chic shops residing on the 1st floor. From 1940 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1991, it served as the headquarters of the USSR State Security Committee, having granted it a well-known nickname: the Corner House.

Today, it represents a branch of the Latvian Occupation Museum where locals and tourists can plunge into the history of the KGB in Latvia. The exposition embraces two parts: documentary and interactive. Documentary one, on the first floor, exhibits photographs and written evidence of events that took place during the Soviet regime in Latvia.

The interactive part is a tour of the museum premises. The guides describe how the detainees were brought to the Corner House and lead the visitors through all the stages of KGB inquiries. In the course of the story, one is going to explore an interrogation room, dark narrow corridors in the basement, small concrete cells, a walking yard, and other places.

Despite the restored facade, everything inside remained almost untouched. Heavy bars, tiles on the walls and on the floor, a narrow shabby staircase to the basement, huge tanks for cooking in the kitchen, furniture – all this has remained since the time when the building was occupied by the KGB. This compilation of experiences contributes to ultimate immersion in the gloomy atmosphere of the headquarters.

During the tour, you can ask questions: the museum staff is well-informed about that historic period and the story of the Corner House.

The museum is open every day from 10.30 to 17.30. At 14:00, a guided tour in Latvian is conducted; tours in English take place at 11.00, 13.00, 15.00, and 16.00. Ticket price: €4 for pupils and students and €10 for adults. The tour lasts about an hour.

You can buy tickets in advance on the website:
– Latvian
– English

All the relevant information is always available on social media:
www.facebook.com/sturamaja
www.instagram.com/kgb.riga

Riga, Latvia