Can museums centered around unpopular subject matter be engaging and involving? By all means yes, and this is best proven by the Emigration Museum in Gdynia. A museum we probably wouldn’t have looked at for a long time if not for many of your recommendations. What awaits inside? Who is this museum for? We invite you to read more.
The Emigration Museum in Gdynia is a relatively new museum, opened in 2015. As befits a new facility, it is far from traditional museums, where exhibits are locked in display cases, where you can’t touch anything, and where every move is closely watched by a museum employee….
At the Museum of Emigration it is completely different – here you even TRY to experience everything with different senses: there are stories of people to listen to, visitors can board a ship sailing to America, see what the control looked like after reaching America, see why people left Polish villages….
Because it is the emigration of Poles that this museum is about, and it was created to commemorate the stories of Poles related to travel and life abroad. However, it is not only about emigrating to other countries that there is much to learn here. The topics of forced resettlement, internal migration, seeking work in developing, industrial cities, fleeing persecution as well as modern history, where almost the whole world is open to Poles, are equally widely discussed.
The choice of location for the headquarters of the Emigration Museum was, of course, not accidental – it is located in the former building of the Marine Station in Gdynia. Yes, away from the center, away from other attractions, but it is this place that gives a unique character, after all, it was from here, exactly from this building, that a ship was boarded to sail across the ocean to a better life. Symbolically, a small observation deck on the first floor has been prepared, symbolizing the very way in which the ship was boarded.
The museum building is quite inconspicuous from the outside. Standing in front of the entrance, nothing announces that inside awaits a modern museum, full of interesting arrangements and multimedia stations.
The Emigration Museum’s exhibition halls are on the second floor, and the ticket offices are on the first floor (there is also a cafe and a store here). At the box office, in addition to purchasing tickets, you can purchase an audio guide to accompany you throughout your journey through the museum.
A large installation reminiscent of Chicago’s Cloud Gate awaits upstairs. Inside it are the first stands with multimedia screens, but the actual entrance to the permanent exhibition is a piece further away, behind a glass door.
Upon crossing this door, we are greeted by the anthem of Poland sung by soldiers – the first emigrants who fought alongside Napoleon. We then learn about travel and life abroad during the Great Emigration, when Poland’s intelligentsia and nobility were leaving.
Subsequent sections show, on the one hand, the growth of cities, the emergence of large manufactories and industrial centers, where hands were needed to work, and, on the other hand, the poverty and hunger that afflicted rural residents who decided to move to the cities for mainly gainful employment.
Next is the most engaging story – we meet the Sikora family, who decide to leave their home in the countryside and move to America. The story is told in great detail, you can see what people packed during the move, how they moved, how long and hard the journey was. Initially riding by cart, then by train with changes to finally reach the port and board the ship, where very harsh and uncomfortable conditions were prepared for the poorest travelers.
Visitors to the museum can almost step aboard the ship, see what the beds looked like and see what problems they faced during the long voyage across the Atlantic. They then accompany the family as they sail to Ellis Island, pass all the inspections and continue their journey into the continent. It must be said that the journey is very moving, told in detail and showing the many challenges faced by people wishing to live at least a little better.
Subsequent sections tell the story of Gdynia, the construction of the port and the ships that sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas, with the largest passenger ship mock-up, the Batory, being particularly noteworthy (it can be viewed from two levels).
Then you get to the part that tells the story of the deportations and deportations to Siberia – there was even a place here for the wagon in which the people were transported. Further parts zoom in on the countries to which most Poles emigrated, we learn about escapes during the communist era, Solidarity, political changes, and finally we reach the time when you can board a plane and fly to the end of the world :)
With this very symbolic touch, the tour of the exhibition ends, and he goes out again to the silver Chicago installation.
There is also space on the same floor for temporary exhibitions, which also relate to various aspects of emigration (during our visit there was a children’s exhibition titled Removals).
Visiting the museum with a child
Are the themes of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia too difficult for children? Some elements may be, but by far the bulk of the exhibition will also interest children. Climbing aboard a ship or airplane, viewing model ships, a wall made entirely of potatoes, seeing an old country house, traveling with the Sikora family – these elements are sure to pique the interest of younger visitors.
Our little ones were delighted, especially since we were fresh from a trip on the east coast of the States, so the topic was very interesting.
In the exhibition there are also elements dedicated to children – puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, which also educate in a very simple way, and on top of that the museum has even created special child-friendly rules – it talks about the rules of visiting and surprisingly there is even permission to run (as long as it is safe) :)
Particularly noteworthy is the Little Traveler’s Room – it is a separate room with books, toys, where children with their parents can relax and play.
Practical information about the Emigration Museum in Gdynia
Facilities for families with smaller children
The place is family-friendly for families with young children – the whole place is handicapped-accessible, so people with baby strollers won’t have any problems moving around the exhibition either.
There are toilets with changing tables, there are rest areas, and the facility declares that it is friendly to nursing mothers.
Prices – how much does a ticket to the Emigration Museum cost?
As a rule, we try to refrain from judging whether something is expensive or cheap, but here we must emphasize it – entry to the Emigration Museum in Gdynia is VERY cheap. For the quality of the exhibition and the amount of time you spend in the museum, the tickets are really cheap, and if we had to pay even 2 or 3 times as much we would still think it worth going in.
Ticket prices for the Emigration Museum are as follows:
Normal ticket – 15 PLN
Discounted ticket – 11 PLN
Family ticket (2 + max 4 children) – 40 PLN
Children under the age of 7 enter for free.
In addition, admission to the permanent exhibition is free on Wednesdays.
Opening hours of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia
The permanent exhibition at the Emigration Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday (the museum is closed on Mondays).
Opening Hours:
Tuesday: 12:00 – 20:00
Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
Getting to the Emigration Museum in Gdynia
The Emigration Museum is located in the building of the former Marine Station, in the port of Gdynia. As you drive you may wonder a few times if you are sure you are going the right way, we had doubts too, but you just have to follow Polish Street all the way to the end, to the French Quay. Directly at the building there are parking spaces (free of charge).
Public transport buses 119 and 133 reach the museum directly (stop: Marine Station – Emigration Museum 01).
The exact address:
Emigration Museum in Gdynia
Poland 1
81-339 Gdynia
Where to stay overnight near the Emigration Museum in Gdynia?
We have stayed in the Tri-City several times and have some recommendations for accommodations for you below (the first three are tested by us):
Golden Tulip Gdansk Residence Address: ul. Piastowska 160, 80-358, Gdansk Prices: from 380 PLN for a double room (breakfast included) Link: https://r4b.link/booking-golden-tulip-gdansk
Mercure Gdansk Old Town Address: ul. Jana Heweliusza 22, 80-890, Gdańsk Prices: from 420 PLN for a double room Link: https://r4b.link/booking-mercure-gdansk
Courtyard by Marriott Gdynia Waterfront Address: ul. Jerzego Waszyngtona 19, Downtown, 81-342 Gdynia Prices: from 311 PLN for a double room Link: https://r4b.link/booking-courtyard-gdynia
The topic, which at first glance may not seem very interesting, absorbed us completely. Different types of emigration, different motives for emigrating like seeking a safe place, going for work and better wages, fleeing persecution – all told in a very engaging and interesting way.
At the Emigration Museum in Gdynia, you can learn about the fates and stories of people who left for different corners of the world and started their lives anew there.
Thanks to such places, we appreciate even more what we have and the times we live in.
...prefers a quiet, lazy vacation, but does not miss the opportunity to see something interesting and bravely keeps pace with Kamila. Contrary to appearances, he also loves active leisure :) He is responsible for the organizational and practical part of the trip, i.e. he makes sure that we get to the ... More about us >>
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