From 30 October, the exhibition Tartu: River Faced will be on view at the Tartu City Museum. The exhibition centres on the Emajõgi River and its role in shaping the history of Tartu.
Opening in the 70th anniversary year of the Tartu City Museum, the exhibition explores the relationship between the city and the Emajõgi River across the centuries. Visitors can discover intriguing objects and photographs, as well as research findings that illuminate the river’s significance in the formation and development of Tartu. The exhibition offers both knowledge and engaging experiences.
A diverse selection of exhibits reflects the many facets of the Emajõgi. One of the focal objects is a river barge (lodi) model over one metre high, returning to Tartu after more than a century in a museum in Lübeck. Among the more recent discoveries is a Ford Sierra raised from the Emajõgi in 2024, having sunk there under mysterious circumstances.
The exhibition also examines changes in the urban landscape along the riverbanks, with particular attention to the riverside architecture of the period before the world wars. Visitors can familiarise themselves with the landmark structures that once shaped the Emajõgi waterfront.
“Tartu would not be Tartu without the river,” emphasises curator Kristi Musteikis. “As one of the city’s most important symbols, the Emajõgi has played a vital role in Tartu’s origins and development. This same river has flowed here for millennia. First there was the river, which brought people here. The river shapes the city: it connects the banks, enables the movement of people and goods, and above all, it is beautiful. It reflects the sky, invites walking and contemplation. The river also puts the city to the test. The city has had to cooperate with it—protecting itself from floods and finding ways for nature and the urban environment to function together.”
Tartu: River Faced is open from 30 October 2025 to 30 August 2026. Ticket information is available on the Tartu City Museum website.
The exhibition is accompanied by the possibility to book guided tours.
Curator: Kristi Musteikis
Exhibition team: Arvi Haak, Martin Jaigma, Taavi Pae, Raivo Aunap, Jüri Kivimäe, Aivar Kriiska, Enriko Talvistu, Gabriela Järvet, et al.
Exhibition designer: Rene Liivamägi
Graphic design: Martin Rästa
Technical production: Peeter Loomus, Lauri Tamm, Verner Liiv, Joonas Õunapuu
The exhibition has been supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Estonia, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Estonian Research Council, Tartu New Theatre, and the Estonian National Museum.
