Museum

THE HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

The Museum of Independence was found on 30 January 1990 as a History Museum of the Polish Independence and Social Movements. The Ministry of Culture and Art in the Przebendowski/ Radziwiłłowie Palace has been set as Headquarters of the Museum. In the past this building the Museum of Lenin was located in that Palace (1955-1989). Collection storerooms, history departments and the library were located in a pavilion near the Ujazdowski Castle. This pavilion has been taken away from the Museum of Independence by the Ministry of Culture and Art and given to the Monument Documentation Centre (in 1991 and 1993). The Museum of Independence includes also to Martyrdom Departments: Museum of the Pavilion X in the Warsaw Citadel and the Museum of the Prison Pawiak. In 1991 the Museum received a new name, which is valid up to these days. In 1992 the Museum of Independence has gained the status of the National Institution of Culture. From1990 to 2007 this institution has organized about 200 exhibitions, which have been seen by over 7m visitors. The Museum of Independence from the very beginning emphasised the importance of education (museum classes, competitions, film shows, theatre plays, educational meetings) the importance of art and culture (concerts, musical and literature programmes) and the importance of publications. Seven exhibitions have been awarded in annual competitions for "the Museum Event of the Year". Since 1 January 1999 the Museum is a community home culture institution - its organizer is the Mazovian Local Government. Since 1994 the institution publishes its own periodical - museum and history magazine called "Niepodległość i Pamięć" (Independence and Memory).