About us

The fundamental aspect of our activities are inspired by the tradition of freedom – the history of parliamentarism, of civic movements, of the persistent struggle for independence. This includes the phenomenon of the nobility-controlled Commonwealth, national uprisings, the history of the Solidarity movement, and the two-time restoration of the independent Republic of Poland in the 20th century.

Our aim is to create a community. By carrying out diverse exhibition, educational and scientific activities, we shape a modern patriotic sensibility. We contribute to the shaping of civic attitudes based on knowledge of tradition and openness to the world.

By presenting the key themes of the history of the Polish state and nation, we present an in-depth view of Polish history, whilst appreciating the role of memory in the contemporary world. Exceptionally important in this context is the commonality of Polish history with that of the nations that co-created the past Commonwealth. 

The Polish History Museum collects historical memorabilia as well as documents, popularises and promotes Polish history. In doing so, it makes use of the latest research. It reaches for inspiring examples of Poland’s achievements and participates in debates on the difficult pages of Polish history. 

The museum is active in shaping Poland’s international image. All of this is done in order to make the country’s history and culture comprehensible and attractive – both to Poles and foreigners. We fulfil our mission in an open way: we promote the widest possible accessibility of cultural heritage and scientific resources.

The Polish History Museum has been preparing temporary exhibitions since its inception. These allow for a closer look at important and interesting historical events and processes, while simultaneously being the museum’s voice in current debates, both national and international. The openings of the PHM’s exhibitions have taken place not only in Poland, but also abroad: at the headquarters of the United Nations, at the European Parliament or the German Bundestag. 

Permanent exhibitions prepared in cooperation with the PHM have been opened in the Netherlands and Hungary. The museum’s exhibition output includes several dozen displays presented in over a dozen countries around the world and visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The museum’s educational activities have been rich and developed systematically since its inception. At their core are classes and workshops for various age groups. These include history-related contests and competitions, outdoor events, educational and location-based games, training for teachers, thematic websites, as well as publications for teachers and students. 

Our educational activities are closely linked to those related to exhibitions, publishing and research. In order to reach as wide an audience as possible, we have been using new media and making educational materials freely available online for years. Much appreciated are numerous films produced by the Polish History Museum, for instance those devoted to soldiers serving under the command of General Stanisław Maczek or eminent personalities of culture, such as Józef Mackiewicz.

As regards historical education and popularisation of history, one of the biggest successes are podcasts developed by the Polish History Museum. Since 2020, they have already been heard by several million people, joined every week by tens of thousands of others.