Brama Żuraw

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Brama Żuraw (Crane Gate)
Narodowe Muzeum Morskie (National Maritime Museum)
Długie Pobrzeże
Gdańsk, September 2018

“In 1958, a Museum's Friends Association was established, and with the participation of Przemysław Smolarek (employee of the National Museum, Szczecin), the Association organised an exhibition titled From a paddle to a nuclear drive in Artus Court in Gdańsk. Przemysław Smolarek lobbied for the creation of a dedicated maritime museum in Poland and his efforts were successful: in 1959, by the decision of adequate authorities (government ministers aided by the Museum of Technology, Warsaw), such a museum was formed in Gdańsk. Przemysław Smolarek was tasked with the preparation work. The Museum was officially established on 1 January 1962, and Smolarek was nominated its director. He remained at this position until his death in 1991. At first the Museum was located in the medieval Gdańsk Crane, but soon started to branch out. In 1963 the first branch – the Lighthouse Museum in the Rozewie Lighthouse – was opened, followed by the Fishery Museum on Hel Peninsula in 1972. In 1972 the institution has been renamed Polish Maritime Museum and granted the status of a national institution.” (National Maritime Museum, Wikipedia)