ABOUT MUSEUM
The Naval Museum has already become a part of Gdynia’s landscape. It is hard to imagine Kościuszko Square without ORP BŁYSKAWICA‘s beautiful silhouette or the Seaside Boulevard (Bulwar Nadmorski) without the Museum’s naval weaponry outdoor exhibition. The Naval Museum is a permanent institution in the service of the community and of its development. It is open to the public. The Museum acquires, conserves, researches and exhibits, the physical evidence of the history of the Polish Navy, for the purposes of study, education and enjoyment. One of our main aims is to be able to make the history of the Polish Navy more accessible to all.
Our exhibitions present the story of the Polish naval forces that everyone, who is interested in the history of Polish presence on the seas, can enjoy.
The large number of visitors to our Museum has proved its popularity and keen interest in the Polish Navy history. It also assures us that we can continue our work at the Naval Museum and increase our efforts. The growing reputation of the Museum also means that more and more priceless exhibits come to this institution, thus enriching our naval collection.
CALENDARIUM
An exhibition “Defence of our Coast in 1939” was organised
During an inspection of the (Baltic) Coast, Marshal Michał Rola-Żymierski agreed to create a Naval Museum in Warsaw, as a branch of The Polish Army Museum
The Polish Army Museum in Warsaw hosted an exhibition about customs and traditions in the Polish Navy
A History Department of the Naval Main Staff was established (Director – Commander Stefan de Walden, former commander officer of ORP Wicher), which coordinated and recorded the collection of naval exhibits
An exhibition “The Navy in the service of our Motherland, in the service of peace” was presented in Warsaw. The leadership of the Naval made an effort to bring it to Gdynia, already having in mind plans to organise a permanent exposition there
The Naval Museum in Gdynia is established. At first it was housed in an old pre-war villa by the city beach
ORP Burza destroyer was transformed into a museum-ship and became a part of the Naval Museum. During the 15 years of its service as a museum, the ship was visited by over 3.7 million people
Due to the poor technical state of the villa, a decision was made to close the building
A temporary exhibition was set up in the former cinema building, next to the Navy Club
Demolition of the unused old museum building and the temporary exhibition hall next to the Navy Club
A new and greatly expanded Exhibition Hall of Naval weapons and armaments was opened in a more presentable location, next to the city Seaside Boulevard (Bulwar Nadmorski)
The ORP Błyskawica destroyer became a museum-ship in place of the older ORP Burza. A small exhibition was set up within Błyskawica
A special Foundation “ A roof for our Navy’s history” was set up, with its own statute, and the required documentation began to be put together to have it formally registered
Officials held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for a new Naval Museum
OFFICIAL MUSEUM'S BIRTHDAY!
The Foundation “ A roof for our Navy’s history” was legally registered
The foundation entered into an official assignment agreement with Navy Headquarters
Agreement signed between Navy Headquarters and the Gdynia City Council regarding joint investment
Phase 1 of the construction work begun
Ministry of Defence provided funding for Phase 2 of the construction which allowed the building works to be finished
The building was officially finished and permission granted for the building to be used
The opening ceremony of the new Naval Museum in Gdynia. Museum now open to the public