Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola

The Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, located in the Lubomirski Palace in Charzewice, was initiated in the 1970s by Fr. Dr. Hab. Wilhelm Gaj-Piotrowski with the support of local clergy, but it was formally established after 1989. After prolonged efforts, the Social Committee for the Establishment of the Museum was formed in January 1995, and its founding capital consisted of Gaj-Piotrowski’s collections, which included exhibits related to the ethnography, history, and art of the Dolnosańskie region. The museum was officially established on October 30, 1997, by the city council and was initially housed in the Municipal Cultural Center before moving to the beautiful Neoclassical Lubomirski Palace, built between 1782 and 1786, which was renovated to serve as the institution’s home. Architecturally, the palace, with its classical stylistic features, is an important part of the regional heritage. The museum not only collects and displays local artifacts but also plays a significant role in promoting the culture and history of Stalowa Wola and its surroundings. Lucyna Mizera, the museum’s first director, led the institution until 2021, when she was succeeded by Aneta Garanty, which may signal further development and new initiatives in the dissemination of regional culture. Interestingly, initial attempts to create the museum date back to before 1989, but their successful implementation only became possible in the new political reality, highlighting the museum’s significance as a cultural institution in the post-communist context. Thus, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola is not only a place for preserving the past but also a vibrant institution engaging the local community in the further development of the region’s culture and history.