Schuylkill County's rich Lithuanian heritage has earned international recognition, as the Lithuanian Heritage Museum in Shenandoah has been honored by the Republic of Lithuania for its decades of work preserving the history, culture and traditions of Lithuanian Americans.
The museum was among a select group of organizations recognized by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys with the "For Merits to Lithuania by Lithuanians Around the World" honorary award. The recognition was announced during a July 20 ceremony at Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vilnius in observance of World Lithuanian Unity Day and Lithuanian School Days.
The Shenandoah museum was recognized alongside several prominent Lithuanian-American organizations, including the Chicago Lithuanian Opera, the Chicago Mothers' Foundation and Lithuanian Hall in Baltimore.
The honor carries special meaning for the museum, which was founded by Anne Chaikowsky La Voie Skirmantas, a Shenandoah native whose family roots trace back to Lithuania. Driven by a lifelong passion for preserving the story of Lithuanian immigrants in the Anthracite Coal Region, she opened the Lithuanian Heritage Museum on East Centre Street in September 2024.
Anne Skirmantas passed away in March 2026, just months after seeing her vision become a reality. Her husband, Peter Skirmantas, traveled to Lithuania and attended the awards ceremony on the museum's behalf, accepting the international recognition of the institution she created.
According to Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the award recognizes members of the Lithuanian diaspora and organizations whose outstanding work preserves Lithuanian identity, strengthens ties with Lithuania, unites Lithuanian communities around the world and contributes to the nation's continued growth and prosperity.
In remarks during the ceremony, Budrys praised this year's recipients for ensuring Lithuanian culture remains vibrant around the world.
"You are the ones who not only preserve our language and traditions, but also help chart Lithuania's course on the international stage—whether through safeguarding cultural heritage, civic engagement or the sense of responsibility that brings people together in service," Budrys said. "Through your efforts, Lithuania stays alive wherever a Lithuanian may be, and your initiatives contribute to our country's resilience and growth."
Located in the heart of Shenandoah, one of the nation's historic centers of Lithuanian immigration, the Lithuanian Heritage Museum celebrates the generations of immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania's coal region. Its exhibits feature artifacts, photographs, documents and historical displays that tell the story of Lithuanian life in Schuylkill County while preserving traditions for future generations.
For a borough whose identity has long been intertwined with Lithuanian culture, the award represents international recognition of Shenandoah's enduring role in preserving that legacy. It also serves as a tribute to Anne Skirmantas, whose dream of creating a permanent home for the area's Lithuanian history continues through the museum and the volunteers who support it.
The "For Merits to Lithuania by Lithuanians Around the World" honorary award has been presented annually since 2019 to recognize exceptional contributions by members of the Lithuanian diaspora and organizations that promote Lithuanian heritage, strengthen connections with Lithuania and help preserve the nation's cultural identity across the globe.
Photo Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Lithuania