The Open Museum of the Oder in Wrocław

The Open Museum of the Oder, organized by the Open Museum of Technology Foundation, is located near the Szczytniki Lock and focuses on the protection and conservation of historic vessels, particularly the steam tugboat "Nadbór." This unique vessel is the only preserved inland steam ship in Poland in its original condition, featuring an authentic steam engine and a well-preserved hull. The tugboat "Nadbór" was built under the Polish-Dutch trade treaty in 1947. Its sister ships, such as "Światopełk" and "Bożydar," also served as tugboats on the Oder until the 1960s, when steam-powered vessels were gradually replaced by modern push convoys. After its active service ended, the tugboat was used as a floating boiler room and later attempted to serve as an icebreaker. Over the years, "Nadbór" underwent various stages of restoration and now serves educational purposes as a laboratory ship, school, and museum. Other valuable vessels in the museum include the barge "Irena," built in 1936 and operated on the Bydgoszcz Canal, and the floating crane Wróblin, which was purchased and renovated by the foundation in 2001. The Open Museum of the Oder not only preserves technical monuments but also promotes the cultural heritage of the Oder Waterway, collaborating with various national and international organizations to protect and develop inland waterway tourism. An interesting fact is that the tugboat "Nadbór" played a key role in transporting goods on the Oder for many years, and its history reflects the development of technology and changes in river navigation in Poland.