Wielkopolska Military Museum

The Greater Poland Military Museum, a branch of the National Museum in Poznań, is located at 9 Old Market Square and is registered in the State Museum Registry. It was founded on May 9, 1919, on the initiative of Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki and opened by Józef Piłsudski. Initially named the Greater Poland Military Museum, it moved to better-suited premises in 1923, and a new headquarters was opened in 1963. The current collection comprises approximately 40,000 exhibits, divided into three departments: weapons, uniforms and military insignia, and historical documentation. The exhibition illustrates the development of Polish armament from the 11th century, and the collections include, among other items, a medieval boat from the 10th century and a 1901 painting by Wojciech Kossak. The museum also stands out for its dynamic architecture, a result of the reconstruction of Poznań's Old Market Square after World War II. The reconstruction of this area was controversial and the subject of much debate, culminating in the construction of modernist pavilions designed by a team of architects, including Jan Cieśliński and Zygmunt Lutomski. The opening ceremony took place in 1962, and the current museum building has gained recognition for its modern forms. The museum was also awarded the "Dobosz Powstania Wielkopolskiego" (Drummer of the Greater Poland Uprising) award in 2005 for its activities.