Museum of the History of Photography "Jadernówka"

The Museum of the History of Photography "Jadernówka" is a historic building in Mielec, constructed between 1904 and 1906 by the photographer August Jaderny. Designed by Stanisław Bronisławski, it is a single-story house with a functional attic. The photography studio was located in a pavilion attached to the building, featuring a glass northern wall and adjustable lighting. During the interwar period, "Jadernówka" served as an important cultural hub and meeting place for local artists, while during the Nazi occupation, it functioned as a contact point for the resistance movement. Since May 1987, the building has served as a museum, and after the relocation of the main seat of the Regional Museum in 2002, it has been entirely dedicated to photography. Its collection includes over 5,000 exhibits, including 2,500 photographs—primarily by the Jaderny family—1,300 negatives, and more than 220 vintage cameras. This makes it the third-largest photography collection in Poland and the second-largest in terms of photographic equipment. Between 2010 and 2011, the building underwent renovation, restoring the original appearance of the waiting room and the pavilion. In 2019, the museum was renamed the Museum of the History of Photography "Jadernówka." This place not only documents the development of photography but also showcases the rich history of local artists and the cultural activity of the region.