The Adam Chętnik Kurpie Open-Air Museum in Nowogród

The Adam Chętnik Kurpie Open-Air Museum in Nowogród, opened on June 19, 1927, is one of the oldest open-air museums in Poland. Founded by Adam Chętnik and his wife Zofia née Klukowska, it aimed to showcase the culture and traditions of the Kurpie people and support local education. Chętnik began collecting exhibits as early as 1909, with the first displays including ethnographic, archaeological, and natural history objects. The museum developed rapidly – by 1930, its assets were valued at over 35,000 złoty, and the number of visitors grew year by year, reaching nearly 1,900 in 1933. After World War II, which left the museum with a tragic past, many exhibits could not be saved, and the museum was destroyed. The surviving elements served as the foundation for the North Mazovian Museum in Łomża, which undertook the reconstruction of the open-air museum. In 1958, after Chętnik's retirement, the museum began collecting wooden architecture objects again, gaining recognition through thematic exhibitions, such as one dedicated to beekeeping and apiculture. Today, the museum features 25 large wooden architecture structures and numerous elements of small architecture. Part of the museum grounds is listed in the register of monuments, showcasing the traditional building style of the Kurpie region of the Green Forest, without replicating a specific village layout. In 2017, the museum grounds were enriched with monuments dedicated to both Adam Chętnik and his wives: Zofia and Jadwiga. Finally, as a result of a decision made in 2022, the museum was transformed into an independent cultural institution and now operates as the Adam Chętnik Kurpie Open-Air Museum, managed by the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The cultural, architectural, and historical attractions it offers draw tourists and educate about the unique regional heritage. The museum not only serves an educational role but also stands as an important hub for the revival of Kurpie culture, preserving traditions and the memory of the region's history.