Established in 1867, the gymnasium was a significant cultural center of Suvalkija and educated many prominent figures of the Lithuanian National Revival.

[1] After the Uprising of 1863, Tsarist authorities decided to implement various Russification policies, including the Lithuanian press ban and de-Polonization of schools.

[1] That meant that children of Lithuanian farmers were encouraged to attend the school in Marijampolė, which in 1867 was converted into a seven-year gymnasium.

The Tsarist authorities also established ten annual scholarships of 360 rubles for children of Lithuanian farmers who graduated from Marijampolė and Suwałki Gymnasiums to study at Moscow and Saint Petersburg Universities.

Its director Kazys Jokantas became Minister of Education (1925–1926) and teacher Vincas Vilkaitis became rector of Lithuanian Agricultural Academy (1934–1940).