Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo

The Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, established in 1962 on the initiative of former prisoners of the Stutthof concentration camp, is an important memorial site located on the grounds of the former camp. The museum covers approximately 20 hectares and includes the Old Camp, a gas chamber, and the remains of the commandant's headquarters and gardens. Other significant structures include reconstructed crematoria, the so-called New Camp and Jewish Camp, as well as a monumental monument designed by Wiktor Tołkin. The museum houses extensive post-camp archives and organizes both permanent and temporary exhibitions, making it a culturally active institution. As an entity subordinate to the Minister of Culture, the Stutthof Museum focuses on education and research. It offers visitors various forms of engagement, such as documentary screenings and guided tours with a guide or an audio guide. In 2017, it was visited by nearly 107,000 people, a significant portion of whom were foreigners. The museum has received numerous awards, including the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis and the title "Museum Event of the Year – Sybilla" in 2011 and 2012. Its directors, from Tadeusz Matusiak to Piotr Tarnowski, have contributed to the development of the institution, which preserves the memory of the Holocaust tragedy and the history of the camp. Additionally, since 2015, the Museum has operated a branch – the Piaśnica Museum in Wejherowo.