Polish Naval Museum

1945

An exhibition “Defence of our Coast in 1939” was organised

1946

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

January 1947

The Polish Army Museum in Warsaw hosted an exhibition about customs and traditions in the Polish Navy

April 1947

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

1952

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

28 June 1953

The Naval Museum in Gdynia is established. At first it was housed in an old pre-war villa by the city beach

1960

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

May 1969

Due to the poor technical state of the villa, a decision was made to close the building

9 May 1970

A temporary exhibition was set up in the former cinema building, next to the Navy Club

March 1974

Demolition of the unused old museum building and the temporary exhibition hall next to the Navy Club

26 June 1975

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)

1 May 1976

The ORP Błyskawica destroyer became a museum-ship in place of the older ORP Burza. A small exhibition was set up within Błyskawica

1998

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

28 November 1998

Officials held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for a new Naval Museum

February 1999

The Foundation “ A roof for our Navy’s history” was legally registered

21 February 2001

The foundation entered into an official assignment agreement with Navy Headquarters

5 July 2001

Agreement signed between Navy Headquarters and the Gdynia City Council regarding joint investment

5 May 2001

Phase 1 of the construction work begun

Summer 2010

Ministry of Defence provided funding for Phase 2 of the construction which allowed the building works to be finished

6 June 2012

The building was officially finished and permission granted for the building to be used

28 November 2012

The opening ceremony of the new Naval Museum in Gdynia. Museum now open to the public