BHP Hall, Gdansk

BHP Hall holds a significant place in history as the location where the pivotal Gdansk Agreements were reached on August 31, 1980. These agreements laid the foundation for the emergence of the independent and self-governing Solidarity movement in Poland.

This imposing structure was built at the beginning of the 20th century as part of what was then known as the Imperial Shipyard of Danzig. Completed in 1902, it consists of a two-story administrative section and a ground-level storage area. Today, the historic Great Hall is located within the former storage area.

Originally, the facility served the military needs of Prussia and later the Third Reich, primarily as a storage and assembly site for torpedoes used in warships. Because of this original function, it is also referred to as the Gdansk Shipyard Torpedo Hall, and a historical inscription to that effect can be seen on the northeast façade.

Military production at the site came to an end in the spring of 1945. After a tragic fire on December 13, 1961, in which 22 workers lost their lives, the building was repurposed for occupational safety training and was subsequently named BHP Hall. In 1979, a conference hall and museum were established within the premises.

Inside the museum, visitors can see the carefully preserved presidium table, made up of several smaller tables measuring 200 by 88 centimeters each. These tables were crafted in the carpentry workshop of the Gdansk Shipyard and were used during meetings of the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee. The museum also features an exhibition titled “Solidarity: Ways to the Agreement.”