Museum of the "Dętka" Canal

The "Dętka" Canal Museum is a unique branch of the Museum of the City of Łódź, located beneath Freedom Square in Łódź, in a historic water reservoir from 1926, designed by William Heerlein Lindley and supervised by Stefan Skrzywan. The reservoir, shaped like a torus, was designed to store water needed for periodic cleaning of the city center's canals. It can hold up to 300 m³ of water and has impressive dimensions: 142 meters in length, 187 centimeters in height, and approximately 1.5 meters in width. The official opening of the exhibition took place on April 28, 2008, and it was made available to visitors two days later. The interior of the museum features an exhibition consisting of documents, archival photographs, and objects related to the history of Łódź's sewer and water supply network. The spatial arrangement and lighting design were created by architect Maciej Słowiński, while Robert Kuśmirowski was responsible for preparing the exhibition. The "Dętka" Museum not only showcases the engineering significance and architectural undertakings in Łódź's history but also serves as a valuable element of the city's cultural identity, highlighting the history of its development and the importance of the water supply and sewage system for its residents. Interestingly, due to its location and unusual form, "Dętka" attracts not only history enthusiasts but also architects and tourists interested in unique technical structures.