Ethnographic Museum at the Abbatial Granary, Gdansk

Ethnographic Museum at the Abbatial Granary, Gdansk

The Ethnographic Museum, a division of the National Museum in Gdansk, presents a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and history. Initially established as the Ethnographical Department within the Pomeranian Museum, it gained independence and was relocated in 1979 to the Abbots' Palace in Gdansk-Oliwa. Later, it moved to its current location, the Abbatial Granary, a historical eighteenth-century building, and was rebranded as the Ethnographical Museum.

The museum's collection predominantly showcases artifacts from Eastern Pomerania, highlighting the diverse ethnic and cultural groups of the region such as Kociewska, the Kashubs, Borowiacka, Lower Vistula, and Zulawy. While the primary focus is on local heritage, the museum also includes exhibits from neighboring regions like Wielkopolska, Kujawy, Warmia, and Mazury.

A unique aspect of the museum is its non-European collection, which has its origins in the exhibits that survived World War II at the Gdansk City Museum (Staatliches Museum). Among its distinctive collections are Eastern Pomeranian folk furniture dating from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, including chests, cupboards, wardrobes, and stools.

The museum also houses significant exhibits related to the culture of the Frisians, who settled in the Vistula River delta in the fifteenth century, and features ceramics, textiles, and furniture brought by Poles who were resettled to Pomerania from the Wilno area after World War II.

The museum's primary exhibition, "Folk Culture of Gdansk Pomerania at the Abbatial Granary," is a permanent fixture that offers visitors a deep dive into the local folk culture. Additionally, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions in the Gothic wing of its former location, the Abbots' Palace, allowing for a dynamic and evolving presentation of cultural heritage and history.

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Ethnographic Museum at the Abbatial Granary on Map

Sight Name: Ethnographic Museum at the Abbatial Granary
Sight Location: Gdansk, Poland (See walking tours in Gdansk)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Gdansk, Poland

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