Museum of history of Riga and navigation is located in Old Riga in the rebuilt dome Cathedral. It is not only the oldest Museum in Latvia but also in Europe.

The origins of the Museum date back to the 18th century. The funds from rich collection of exhibits of doctor of Riga Nikolaus von Gisela (1729-1764). After the death of Nikolaus, his mother, according to the will of the son, handed over the exhibits, among which were the natural, artistic and historical objects, as a gift to Riga. Riga rulers in February of 1773 gave the instruction to establish the Museum, calling his name Himself. Then the Museum was located in the premises of the Anatomical theatre, located at Kaleju street 34/36. To our days this building, unfortunately, not preserved.

In 1791, the Museum moved into the East wing of the Duomo, specially equipped for the needs of the Museum and the city library. In 1816, the Museum opened the Cabinet of arts, and at the end of the 19th century – coin Cabinet. The development of the Museum is related to the activities of various societies, collections of which were presented in the Museum in 1858. In 1890 the society who participated in the life of the Museum (the society for the study of the history and antiquities of the Baltic provinces of Russia, Literary practical Union of citizens, etc.) moved, together with collections in the dome ensemble, which for the needs of the Museum constructed a building on the street Palast, 4.

In 1932 the dome Museum, including collections, has joined the list of Control objects monuments of the Republic of Latvia, but four years later it was closed. At the same time the city administration of the city has created the Riga city history Museum. The development of the newly established Museum was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World war, and later he was interrupted by the Soviet occupation. For the whole of this difficult period more than once changed its name since 1964 and to this day it is called the Museum of history of Riga and navigation.

In 2005, the Museum of history of Riga and navigation was transformed into the State Agency. Today the Museum houses over half a million items, divided into 80 collections. The most significant collections are archaeological and numismatic. In the Museum 3 branches mentzendorff's House in Riga, Photography Museum of Latvia and the Museum of Ainaži nautical school.