Muzeum Harcerstwa w Warszawie
The only museum in Poland devoted entirely to the scouting movement, with a permanent exhibition on the history of the movement from about 1910, banners, uniforms and the archive of the Grey Ranks (Szare Szeregi).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Muzeum Harcerstwa w Warszawie (Scouting Museum in Warsaw) has been operating since 2001. The decision to establish it as an independent organisational unit of the Polish Scouting Association (Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego) was taken on 6 June 2001 by the Chief Scout of the ZHP, Wiesław Maślanka. A team of historians and museum specialists under the direction of Prof. Tadeusz Polak drafted the statute in cooperation with the Minister of Culture, who exercises professional supervision over the museum. The first director was Andrzej Borodzik.
Earlier attempts to found a scouting museum, made between the wars by Wacław Błażejewski and after the war, did not succeed, and the materials gathered at that time were scattered or destroyed. At its founding the new institution received the library collections and the historical archive of the ZHP Main Headquarters.
The collections include banners and standards, uniforms, camp equipment, decorations, scouting crosses, photographs, posters and archives of the organisation from 1911, including a collection on the Grey Ranks from the Second World War. The museum secures, catalogues and makes its collections available, and conserves the most valuable objects. In more than twenty years it has published 33 publications, prepared 45 exhibitions and organised 10 symposia and popular-science conferences. The seat is at ul. Konopnickiej 6 in Powiśle.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition on the history of scouting from about 1910 to the present
- More than 96 banners and standards
- Uniforms from different periods and scouting crosses
- Archive of the Grey Ranks from the Second World War
- Scouting archives from 1911 and the collection of Radio Harcerskie
Permanent exhibition
- Wystawa stała Muzeum Harcerstwa – The exhibition presents the history of Polish scouting from about 1910 to the present: banners and standards, uniforms from different periods, scouting crosses, camp equipment and archival documents.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission to the permanent exhibition is free (according to the capital’s museum portal; the museum’s website gives no price list). Group activities are paid.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The building has an entrance at ground level from the car park side and a lift. A sign-language interpreter and an induction loop are not available. Accessibility coordinator: tel. +48 22 33 90 703, muzeum.harcerstwa@zhp.pl (Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:00).
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|
The educational offer is aimed at organised groups; supervisors are counted in the group size.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Plac Trzech Krzyży
Buses to the stop Plac Trzech Krzyży (lines 111, 116, 166, 180, 503); metro Politechnika (M1) or Nowy Świat-Uniwersytet (M2); rail: Warszawa Powiśle station.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park for visitors; the area lies in a paid parking zone.
The entrance to the building from ground level is from the car park side.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Museum lessons for groups (on average about 2 hours) must be booked by e-mail at least 15 days in advance (muzeum.harcerstwa@zhp.pl, tel. +48 22 33 90 703); prices depend on group size, e.g. PLN 100 for up to 10 people, PLN 150 for up to 15 people and PLN 300 for up to 30 people. The exhibition is in Polish. |
