EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS 2024 IS BEHIND US!
During this year's edition of the European Night of Museums, we prepared activities for you at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, as well as at Westerplatte, where we invited you to uncover unknown secrets of the peninsula. This Museum Night was special, not only due to some of the attractions being available for the first time but also because of the impressive turnout. The Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk achieved the second highest attendance in its history since its opening in 2017. On the night of May 18th-19th, nearly 4,500 people visited our institution, and over 3,000 visited Westerplatte! Thank you for being with us!
ENM 2024 officially started at 7:00 PM. The first visitors lined up in front of the entrance and then at the gathering points, where they could take advantage of the free guided tours of the main exhibition.
In addition to the exhibits, in various sections of the main exhibition, visitors also admired actors from the MSWW youth theater group, who showcased everyday life during World War II in period costumes. In front of the museum, World War II relics were proudly displayed – led by a Dodge WC 52 and a Willys Jeep. The atmosphere was further enhanced by the Bellum Historical Reconstruction Group, dressed in the uniforms and equipped with gear of the Polish Armed Forces in the West.
Families who enjoy puzzles and challenges could participate in a game that allowed them to learn about the history of World War II through ‘slides’.
The conservation workshop was also very popular, where visitors could learn about the conservators' work involving artifacts made of paper, metal, and multi-material objects. Selected stages of work on specific objects from the MSWW collections and those obtained from excavations at Westerplatte were presented.
On the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, those interested could learn about Polish wartime experiences through curator-led tours of the temporary exhibition ‘Operation Diadem’. The third edition of the Lost Culture Festival also began on the day of the European Night of Museums, as announced by staff at the Cultural Events Department booth of the MSWW.
Many other attractions were prepared for this special night at Westerplatte. One of them was a field game on the border of a Live Action Role-Playing game (LARP) called ‘Secrets of Westerplatte’, where participants could play the role of a civilian worker or a soldier of the Military Transit Depot.
At the game-related and other stations, invaluable information was provided by MSWW archaeologists, who acquainted visitors with the history of the site and the present state of excavation work.
Visitors to the Peninsula during the ENM had the opportunity for the first time to tour the Power Plant building along with its adjacent areas.
The prepared lighting effects were very popular. Among them were the illuminated buildings of the Guardhouse No. 1, Guardhouse No. 5, and the New Barracks.
The unique atmosphere of the event was created not only by the people involved, but also by the extraordinary attractions, and of course, the reconstruction events, with an active Bofors gun and 81mm mortar, as well as a pyrotechnic display. The Collections Department staff of the MSWW presented a 76.2mm field gun along with some original shell casings found at Westerplatte, as well as period vehicles, including a 1931 Citroen AC4 taxi in Landaulet body style and a 1936 FIAT 508 car.
Thank you for being with us during the European Night of Museums 2024 at Westerplatte and the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk!
