The Museum
of Viljandi is in one of the oldest stone houses of the town. The plan of the ground floor
of the building is still mostly the same as it was when built in 1780. The mansard was
added in the 80s of the 19th century. The house was built by Johann Joachim Schoeler, the
pharmacist of Viljandi, as his dwelling house and chemist shop.
Until 1902 the building belonged to the Schoelers, afterwards it was rented out. In
1902-1905 Mag. Friedrich K.E. Kersten was the pharmacist and in 1906-1919 the house
belonged to Walter E.A.Stedding, also a pharmacist. From 1919 to early 1940 the building
was in the possession of the pharmacist H.G. Jürgens, who later emigrated to Germany. For
a short period in 1940 the chemist shop also belonged to Mag. Aleksander Männik. As the
owners of the building, the successors of the Schoelers, had also emigrated to Germany,
the museum of Viljandi was housed in the building in 1942. The old chemist’s house is
under protection as an architectural memorial since 1964.
The museum of Viljandi, which is in the building, was founded already in 1878. The
so-called Ditmar Museum was formed of objects found during the archaeological excavations
in the ruins of the Order Castle of Viljandi. This museum was closed when World War I
broke out. The museum was reopened on the initiative of the Local research society of
Viljandi in 1936, under the name of Viljandi Museum. Today the collections of the museum
are among the largest among county museums. Here is a valuable ethnographical collection,
ample archives and a comprehensive art collection. The collections of Viljandi Museum
contain more than 90,000 objects.
There is a reading room for visitors, which was taken into use with the new collection
storage rooms and offices. The exhibition rooms in the old chemist’s house are now being
reconstructed. In these rooms an exhibition reflecting the nature, history and human
activities can be seen.