Warsaw Historical Museum

The Historical Museum of Warsaw is one of the iconic sites in the Polish capital. Its operation was suspended in 2015 and resumed in May 2017. It was a celebration for the city, which led to a gala event in the Market Square, located in the Old Town.

This enthusiastic attitude towards the museum is explained by the fact that it contains objects that retell the country’s history. The museum’s mission, it says, is to ensure that the modern Poland does not lose touch with its traditions and symbols. It is to remember what life was like in the past generations.

Historical Info

There are 3 buildings on the Market Square that were partially destroyed during World War II. They were purchased by the Warsaw municipality a few years before the outbreak of hostilities. They were added after the war to make a total of 11 buildings, including the courtyard.

Today, the museum’s property consists of about 300,000 exhibits. These are historical artefacts. One of them dates back to 1300 according to the records. Predominantly, the museum houses items from private collections, as well as those found during archaeological excavations. Almost all of them have been restored and the documents have been digitised.

Museum assets

The renovated museum offers a main exhibition called “The Objects of Warsaw”. However, experts often argue with this one, as it offers a glimpse into a part of the capital characterised by merriment and elegance. The room contains exhibits found in Castle Square, the Polish Bank, and the Krasinski Gardens. Here you can enjoy monuments made of stone and bronze that once graced the city.

The Historical Museum is especially proud of its collection of silverware. It was not easy to create, as wartime activities facilitated active looting. However, they managed to find an item that dates back to 1759. The rest of the exhibits date back mainly to the 20th century. These include postcards, maps, portraits, drawings and more.

In 2002, a unique collection was presented to the museum. It consists of 956 items. There are maps, miniatures, furniture and pottery among them. You can also see military uniforms, medals and war albums. Their owner was a Polish army veteran called Anders Jan Schiele. Thanks to this collection you can learn more about the Poles who took part in the war effort.

There is also a collection of clothes and shoes that belonged to the princes who ruled here in the 16th century. There are pieces of kuntusha, and items made by the sewing workshops operating at the court. You can also see pieces made by folk craftsmen. There are also models by contemporary designers for a change. The latter are distinguished by their extravagance and originality, especially when compared to the previous ones.