Regional Museum in Siedlce

The Mieczysław Asłanowicz Regional Museum in Siedlce is an institution that combines rich history, remarkable architecture, and extensive cultural activities. It is housed in the Old Town Hall, an 18th-century building funded by Aleksandra Ogińska and constructed between 1766 and 1771. Serving as a landmark of the city, the Town Hall impresses with its classical beauty and innovative features for its time, including one of the first lightning rods in Poland and a carillon in its tower. The museum was inaugurated in 1928 as the Museum of the Podlasie Region, but many valuable exhibits were lost in a fire during World War II. After a hiatus of over 20 years, it was reactivated in 1967, expanding its offerings to include scientific and educational activities and beginning to collect exhibits related to history, archaeology, ethnography, art history, and cultural studies. The museum places particular emphasis on portrait art, Polish painting, and 19th- and 20th-century landscape graphics. Although it is a relatively small institution, it continuously develops its educational programs by organizing numerous meetings, lectures, and events that attract scholars, specialists, and students. The museum offers over 20 topics for museum lessons and maintains a rich library with materials on local history, culture, and art. A notable aspect of its activities includes celebrations of independence anniversaries and lectures on local history and exhibits.