Łomża – A Journey Through the Centuries Historical Exhibition
PLACE
UL. DWORNA 22C
The exhibition presents the history of the city from its founding at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, through the prosperous 15th and 16th centuries, the difficult period of the partitions, the years of the Second Polish Republic, and the post-war era.
A symbol of Łomża’s development several centuries ago is the model of a “szkuta” — a flat-bottomed boat — displayed in the exhibition. In the 16th century, such vessels were used to transport goods (grain, tar, honey, hides, and wood) from the port in Łomża down the Narew and then the Vistula River to Gdańsk.
An important element of the city’s history has been — and continues to be — education.
elementary education since the city’s beginnings, and secondary education since the first half of the 17th century. The exhibition highlights distinguished teachers and graduates of Łomża’s schools, including Józef Skłodowski (grandfather of Maria Skłodowska-Curie), Jakub Waga (author of Flora Polonica), Leon Rzeczniowski (author of the first monograph of Łomża), and Stefan Wyszyński (student of the Łomża School of Commerce in 1915–1917, later the Primate of Poland).
A distinctive feature of Łomża in the 19th century was its multicultural and multi-religious character, illustrated in the exhibition by depictions of religious buildings such as the former parish church, the Evangelical church, the Holy Trinity Orthodox cathedral, and the synagogue.
Nearly all trades essential to the lives of the townspeople were represented in the city, with craftsmanship and commerce thriving. This is reflected in the exhibited artifacts related to the activities of craftsmen, merchants, and entrepreneurs — including seal stamps, bottles, newspaper advertisements, and exceptional silver tea spoons from the mid-19th century, signed by their maker, the Łomża goldsmith Herszek Eyzenfeld.
The turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was also a time of vibrant social, cultural, and sporting life, illustrated in the exhibition by memorabilia from the Łomża Rowing Association, the Łomża Volunteer Fire Brigade, and various photographic studios.
During the partitions, the residents of Łomża were actively involved in patriotic activities, which is reflected in the exhibition through artifacts such as a button from a participant of the November Uprising and a scythe used by a January Uprising insurgent.
A symbol linking the period of national oppression with the regained independence is the photograph of Leon Kaliwoda — a scout and member of the Polish Military Organization (POW) — who was killed by German soldiers during their disarmament on November 11, 1918.
The next part of the exhibition is devoted to Łomża during the interwar period, featuring the first city council, the 33rd Infantry Regiment, and the first bishop of the Łomża Diocese.
A significant part of the materials concerning Łomża in the 19th and 20th centuries is presented in multimedia form — including old city maps, postcards, photographs, and chronicles.
