August 23, 2024, will mark 35 years since over a million residents of the Baltic states joined hands to draw attention to the Baltic states’ aspirations for freedom. We invite those interested to a special tour in Tallinn Old Town, available in Estonian and English, on this day.

One of the most remarkable peaceful political mass demonstrations, the human chain formed on August 23, 1989, spanned 675.5 kilometers from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius. The demonstration was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Baltic Way was a pivotal moment in the story of Eastern Europe’s liberation and remains one of the most outstanding examples of nonviolent protest in history.

During the tour, we will visit locations in Tallinn’s Old Town associated with the restoration and preservation of Estonian independence. We will discuss the role of institutions and events that brought and maintained freedom in the past and present. However, the primary focus of the tour will be on the Baltic Way, illustrating its story with pictures and audio memories. The tour will also cover events that preceded and followed the Baltic Way.

The tour starts at Vabamu (Toompea 8b) and ends at Freedom Square.

Participation in the tour requires a museum ticket, which can be purchased at the museum. The tour is free for participants with TallinnCard. Before the tour, visitors can explore Vabamu’s permanent exhibition “Freedom Without Borders.”

The tour lasts approximately one hour.