Historical Museum of the City of Kraków

The Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, known as the Krakow Museum, was established in 1899 and has its main headquarters in the "Pod Krzysztofory" Palace on the Main Market Square. The museum began its operations as a branch of the Archive of Old Records and was associated with multiple locations before permanently settling in the Krzysztofory Palace in 1964. Initially, it did not exhibit its collections; the first permanent exhibition opened in 1952, and the current exhibition "Krakow from the Beginning, Without End" was inaugurated on December 18, 2021. The museum cultivates local traditions, such as the Lajkonik and Krakow nativity scenes, organizing an annual nativity scene competition since 1946. Its collections are historical and related to the history of Krakow and its inhabitants. Among its numerous branches are the Town Hall Tower, Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, and the Eagle Pharmacy, which focus on the history of World War II in Krakow. The museum has the status of a local government cultural institution and is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the City of Krakow. In 2005, it was entered into the State Register of Museums and joined the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Interestingly, the museum not only focuses on exhibitions but also actively participates in preserving traditions related to Krakow's culture.