Polish American Museum facts for kids

Portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746–1817) at the Polish American Museum

The Polish American Museum is a fascinating place in Port Washington, New York, USA. It opened its doors on January 20, 1977. This museum shows off amazing folk art, traditional costumes, and historical items. It also has a special library with books in two languages. This library focuses on the great things people of Polish heritage have done in America.

The museum is located in what used to be the old Port Washington library. Almost everything you see inside was given by people from the community. This includes old war items, army uniforms, Polish medals, and even weapons. There are also many books about Poland in both English and Polish. Many Polish immigrants came to Nassau County, New York about 100 years ago. They often worked on large estates in the area. Today, their families live all over the place. The museum is trying to learn more about the history of Polish people on Long Island.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum really highlights famous people who have Polish roots. You'll see a portrait of Pope John Paul II. There's also a picture of Tadeusz Kościuszko in his uniform. He was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Another important figure shown is Kazimierz Pułaski. He was a General who led the cavalry under George Washington.

Special Rooms and Exhibits

One room at the museum is dedicated to Polish people who won the Nobel Prize. This is a very important award given for great achievements. Famous winners like Marie Curie and Lech Wałęsa are featured here. In the music room, you can see plaster copies of Frédéric Chopin's death mask and his left hand. These were brought from Warsaw by a museum member.

A very powerful item on display is a blue-and-white striped jacket. This jacket belonged to a Polish prisoner held by the Germans in World War II. This person survived seven different camps between 1944 and 1945. The jacket is now part of the museum's Holocaust exhibit.

The CMS Annex is another popular part of the museum. CMS stands for Center for Military Studies. This annex tells the military stories of Poles and Polish Americans. It shows how they helped shape both US and Polish history through many wars. One featured exhibit is about Frank Gabreski from Long Island. He was the top US ace (a pilot who shot down many enemy planes) in Europe during World War II.

The current director of the museum is Gerald Kochan.

Museum Collections and Archives

Portrait of Kazimierz Pułaski at the Museum

The museum has many important historical items. These include things related to Poland's history and the Polish American community. For example, there's a large collection from Henry Archacki. There's also a collection of Polish-American art from around 1900 to 1990.

Research Materials

If you want to learn more about Polish history and culture, the museum has many resources. These include records of Polish Americans who fought in the American Civil War. There are also historical writings, notes, photographs, and personal letters. You can find audio and video tapes, newspaper clippings, and newsletters. The museum also has directories and certificates.

The museum has documents from important Polish-American groups. These include the Polish National Alliance, the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, and the Polish Falcons of America. You can also find information about Polish newspapers published in the United States. There are even letters between many Polish-American writers, painters, sculptors, photographers, historians, and military officers. The collection is quite large, about 50 cubic feet!

Other Holdings

The museum also has old maps. Its library and collection include items from the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America. These items tell stories about the lives of people with Polish heritage. The museum often holds special events in its reading room. During these events, they display original photographs and lithographs (a type of print).

The Polish American Museum is a special place for learning. It helps visitors understand the culture and folk traditions of the Polish people. It also aims to show how people of Polish heritage have contributed not only to America but to all of humanity.

See also

Related reading

• "Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social, and Cultural History (2007)"
• "Jamestown Pioneers from Poland, 1608-1958 (1958)"
• "Poles in the United States (1912)"