Muzeum Miasta Gdyni

About the museum

The idea of setting up a municipal museum in Gdynia emerged among the local elite as early as the 1960s. As a result, the Dział Dokumentacji Historii Miasta (Department of Documentation of the City’s History) was created at the Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna (Municipal Public Library); it collected photographs, postcards, documents, posters, plans, maps and works of art. On the basis of these collections, the city president founded the Muzeum Miasta Gdyni (Museum of the City of Gdynia) on 1 January 1983.

For the following decades the museum operated in modest premises: the director’s office was in a historic little house at ul. Starowiejska, while storage and exhibition functions were served by a former exhibition pavilion of Gdynia artists at ul. Waszyngtona. During this time the institution organised exhibitions and events, expanded its collections and built ties with the local community.

The new home, a modern building of light sandstone shaped like a ship, stands at the boundary of sea and land. It was officially opened on 16 November 2007. Today the museum presents the permanent exhibition “Gdynia – Dzieło Otwarte” on the upper floors. It tells the story of the dream of a modern Poland, the building of the port and the city, the war, the communist era, the events of December 1970 and August 1980, and the everyday life of Gdynia’s residents. The museum also covers modernism, design and dizajn, and runs an extensive educational programme.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Gdynia – Dzieło Otwarte” (Gdynia – An Open Work)
• Modern building shaped like a ship by the sea
• Collections of photographs, posters, maps and works of art
• Admission free on Tuesdays
• Educational activities and family workshops

Permanent exhibition

• Gdynia – Dzieło Otwarte – Permanent exhibition on the history of Gdynia: from the dream of a modern Poland and the building of the port, through the war and the communist era, to the everyday life of its residents.

Founded

1983

Director

Karin Moder

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Tuesday – free admission.

Free admission is also granted, among others, to holders of the Pomorska Karta Turysty (Pomeranian Tourist Card), the Karta Polaka (Pole’s Card), the Gdynia resident card (karta mieszkańca Gdyni) and the Karta 360, as well as to people with Ukrainian citizenship and to children under 7.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance leads up steps from ul. Zawiszy Czarnego; a ramp marked with a pictogram from ul. Franciszka Sędzickiego is recommended. The building has one lift serving all floors, and accessible toilets on levels -1 and 0. Parking spaces for people with disabilities are about 100 metres from the museum. Entry with a guide dog or an assistance dog is possible. The exhibitions are adapted to the needs of people with mobility, visual, hearing and intellectual impairments, and people on the autism spectrum. The museum website has a video invitation in Polish Sign Language. Accessibility coordination: Ośrodek Edukacji, edukacja@muzeumgdynia.pl, tel. 58 662 09 35/36.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly

The museum organises Family Days and workshops for children. A family ticket costs PLN 45, and children under 7 enter free of charge. The building is adapted for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs: there is a lift and a ramp.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

The museum shop closes 30 minutes before the museum closes; the cloakroom is on level 0, opposite the toilets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum makes its spaces available for hire.

Plan your visit