In the navigation era boats sailed to Riga along the Daugava from Smolensk and the Vitebsk region with goods to sell in Riga and to transport further to Western Europe.

Painting by J.Ch. Brotze.

In 1767, there were 19,485 people living in Riga, 8,560 (43.9%) of whom were Germans; 6,654 (34.1%) Latvians; 2,963 (15.2%) Russians and 1,308 (6.8%) were Poles. >>

At the crossroads of Gogol St and Turgenev St. was The Russian House of Commerce (Gostinny Dvor). >>

The Statute of the Commerce of Riga (1765) is kept in the Latvian National Library >>

Sea Port of Liepaya. Modern view. >>

Ventspils Trading Port. >>

Photograph of members of the Third Riga Society of Mutual Credit, presumably from the 1890’s >>

Merchant Bobrov family.  >>

Merchant Potapov family. >>

House of Konstantin Tupikov, a merchant of colonial goods and fruits,  in Riga, Ģertrudes St. 10/12. Built in 1902. Present day view. >>