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Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum facts for kids
The Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum is a special place that helps keep the history and culture of Polish and Kashubian people alive in Winona, Minnesota. It started in 1979. People in Winona often call it the Polish Museum. You can find it in an old lumber yard office building from 1890, located at 102 Liberty Street in Winona, Minnesota, United States. The museum used to be called the "Polish Cultural Institute and Museum." It changed its name to include "Kashubian" because it also celebrates the strong Kashubian culture in Winona.
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Discover the Polish Museum in Winona
In 1979, Father Paul Breza, a local priest from Winona, bought the old Laird-Norton Building. He wanted to keep historical items about Polish immigrants in Winona safe. At first, there were some disagreements among the Polish community in Winona. This led to two different groups forming: the Polish Heritage Society and the Polish Cultural Institute.
Father Breza led the Polish Cultural Institute, which officially started in 1979. Their goal was to fix up the Polish Museum and help people understand how much Polish people helped build the Winona community. Winona is even known as the "Kashubian Capital of America." The Polish Museum helps celebrate this. Winona also has a special partnership with Bytów, Poland, which is a "Sister City."
In 2010, the Polish Heritage Society honored Father Breza. This helped bring the two groups together. Another important person linked to the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum was Anne Pellowski. She was a writer and teacher who lived in Winona for many years.
What You Can See at the Museum
The first floor of the Museum has many exhibits. These show what life was like for Polish and Kashubian immigrants in Winona and nearby areas. There's also a gift shop where you can buy books, clothes, music, and other items. Many of these things come from Poland.
Recently, the museum bought two more buildings nearby. The Schultz House is being fixed up to show what a historic home looked like. The Morrison Annex Event Center is a place for cultural events. You can enjoy dances and music performances there. The Morrison Annex also has a very long mural, which is a painting on a wall. It shows the lives and contributions of Polish and Kashubian immigrant families in Winona.
Special Church Collection
The second floor of the Museum holds a collection of items from churches in the Winona area. These items come from places like the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka. Father Breza collected and organized these items. However, the items still belong to the Diocese of Winona, which is a church district.
This collection is very large. It includes statues, special furniture from church altars, and vestments. Vestments are the special clothes worn by priests. It also has other things used in Polish Catholic churches in the 1800s in the United States. Sometimes, parts of this collection are lent to other Catholic churches. This helps them make their worship spaces feel more historical.
Fun Cultural Events
The Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum always works to help people learn about Polish and Kashubian culture. This includes the culture of immigrants in Winona and modern Poland. In recent years, more people have become interested in Kashubian-American culture. The museum now features Kashubian customs. Examples include the Blessing of Flowers and "Smaczne Jablka," which means "Tasty Apples" or Apple Fest.
The museum also connects with Kashubian Poles, especially in the town of Bytów, Poland. Bytów is one of Winona's sister cities. One regular activity is an exchange program for high school students between Bytów and Winona. Another fun activity is musical performances at the Annex. These can range from local polka bands to newly found music written by Polish immigrants.