Jekabpils takes its name from Duke Jacob himself. This area was settled in the 13th century, and is associated with the Duchy of Courland. The city grew up on the left bank of the Daugava River. Jekabpils was a popular stopover point for the Vikings and other travelers along the Daugava trade route. The city was officially founded in 1920. Jekabpils, along with Krustpils, right across the river, is primarily a river town. But sugar refineries and manufacturing plants for building materials make it an important industrial center as well.

Jekabpils has several historically significant sites. Among the oldest structures is the Krustpils castle built in the 13th century. Not quite as old is the Krustpils church, which dates back to 1683. And from the 18th century there is the Jekabpils Church (1769) as well as the Nikolaja Cloister Church. Be sure to check out the Regional Studies Museum for a bit of insight about the area. And the Maritime School makes sense in light of the fact that the Daugava carries seabound river traffic.

The Jekabpils region also has a memorial museum to the beloved poet Janis Rainis. The house – called Tadenava – in which the museum is located was built by the poet's father, shortly after the birth of his son on September 11, 1865. Rainis spent the first four years of his life in this house. Although memories from such tender years are few and far between, Rainis, according to his later writings, always retained a very vivid impression of the sun from his life at Tadenava. And this motif can be found again and again throughout his works.

Two of the rooms in the museum are dedicated to Rainis' parents and his sister. Also on display are a loom, work tools, and housewares from the mid 1860's. Call 77251 when you're in Jekabpils for directions to Tadenava. The museum is open from May 15-October 15 every day except Monday and the hours are from 10-17:00.