Model of an 18th-c. Riga Barge

This scale model represents a type of flat-bottomed barge used in the 18th c. to transport goods along the Daugava River. Barges like this were crucial for Riga’s trade, carrying hemp, flax, grain, and timber—key exports from the Russian Empire. Their use reflects Riga’s strategic position as a major transit hub linking inland markets with the Baltic Sea.