Poland’s Warsaw Historical Museum
See the post-war rebuilding of Warsaw’s Old Town Square for yourself
Mar 5, 2007
If you’re spending any time in Warsaw, understanding the wartime history of the city is a must, and the Warsaw Historical Museum (Muzeum Historyczne Warszawy) is the best place to learn. Situated on the picturesque Old Town Square, taking up eight historical buildings, this combination of displays and films will give you a new perspective on the modern capital of Poland.
Warsaw Historical Museum’s Film
A must-see feature of the Warsaw Historical Museum is the film it shows many times daily depicting Warsaw as it was before World War Two, during the damaging war era and showing the rapid and enthusiastic reconstruction after the war ended. The film runs regularly but the English language version is usually only once or twice a day, so be sure you don’t miss it.
Before you go into the museum, take a good look around at the buildings of the Old Town Square, and try to pick which ones were most damaged during the war. The rebuilding effort in Warsaw was faster and more complete than probably all other eastern European cities, especially once you see how destructive the war was.
Exhibits at the Warsaw Historical Museum
While clambering around the joined buildings that house the museum is a historical adventure in itself, the displays showcase many different sides of Warsaw. Those detailing the rebuilding effort are probably of interest to everyone.
But there are over sixty rooms in the four-storey museum, so there is also something for all. Part of the museum has old style rooms furnished in a historical style, to get a picture of how citizens of Warsaw lived in the past. There are also exhibits with fragments of old pottery or remnants of centuries-old clothing to give you some information on the older history of the city.
Visiting the Warsaw Historical Museum
Like many museums across Eastern Europe, the Warsaw Historical Museum is closed on Mondays. On other days, it opens at various times (but always by 11am); sometimes it’s closed by 3.30pm but on Tuesdays and Thursdays it stays open until 6pm. Admission is free on Sundays or 6 Zloty on other days.
