ENThe idea of the multicultural inheritance of the historical region of East Prussia is popular in a modern German, Polish and Lithuanian historiography. The aim of this article is to show the very intensive public activities to preserve the multicultural heritage of East Prussia and as well as Prussian Lithuania (Lithuania Minor). It is necessary to emphasize the role of two cultural societies which were active in Königsberg (Prussia) and Tilsit (Lithuanian society of literature). They made a significant contribution to the capture and conservation of the ethnic tradition of Prussian Lithuania not only by recording it in scientific texts, but also using such innovative means at the time as an ethnographical museum. The main conclusion of our analysis is that we must see a variety of cultural life in East Prussia at the end of 19th century in spite of the nationalistic state policy in Germany. Keywords: East Prussia, cultural inheritance, Lithuania Minor, ethnographical museum, folklore tradition.