Museum of Western Mazovia in Żyrardów

The Museum of Western Mazovia in Żyrardów, housed in the historic villa of Karol Dittrich Jr., is an institution with rich collections focusing on the art, ethnography, history, and iconography of the region. Architecturally, the villa, built in the French style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, offers unique, richly decorated interiors that attract architecture enthusiasts. The museum was initiated by Józef Procner in the early 20th century, but its realization was delayed by World War II. After the war, in 1960, the Museum of the History of the Workers' Movement was established, which over the years transformed into the District Museum and finally became the Museum of Western Mazovia in 2000. The museum's collections include over 8,400 exhibits; the art department features works by Józef Rapacki, including a panorama of Żyrardów from 1899, exhibited at the Paris World's Fair. The ethnography department documents the working life of Żyrardów, displaying period furniture and clothing, while the history department houses an interesting map of the Kingdom of Poland from 1885. The iconography department gathers a rich collection of visual documents and photographs that illustrate the city's development and the lives of its inhabitants. The museum also has a library with approximately 4,900 items, focusing on historical and ethnographic literature. Interestingly, the museum displays photographs of the city's cultural life, including images of artistic performances and social events, as well as very old postcards depicting Żyrardów. Since September 2023, the museum's director has been Arkadiusz Sowa, who continues the tradition of collecting and promoting the cultural heritage of the region.