BHP Hall, Gdansk

BHP Hall, also known as BHP Hall, holds a significant place in history as the location where the pivotal Gdańsk (also known as August) Agreements were reached on August 31, 1980. These agreements laid the foundation for the emergence of the independent and self-governing Solidarity (Solidarność) movement in Poland.

This imposing structure was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century as part of what was then called the Imperial Shipyard of Danzig (Kaiserliche Werft Danzig). It was completed in 1902 and consists of a two-story administrative section and a ground-level storage area. Today, the historic Great Hall is located within the storage area.

Originally, the facility served the military purposes of Prussia and later the Third Reich, primarily as a storage and assembly site for torpedoes used in warships. Due to its original function, it is also referred to as the Gdańsk Shipyard Torpedo Hall, and there is a historical inscription to that effect on the northeast facade.

Military production at this site came to an end in the spring of 1945. After a tragic fire incident on December 13, 1961, in which 22 workers lost their lives, the building was repurposed for occupational safety training and was subsequently named Sala BHP, which stands for Occupational Health and Safety (Bezpieczeństwo i higiena pracy). In 1979, a conference hall and a museum were established within its premises.

In 1999, in conjunction with Solidarity Square (Plac Solidarności), the building was officially designated as a historic monument. In December 2004, the Hall was taken over by the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity," and the current museum was established in 2010.

Inside the museum, visitors can find the carefully preserved presidium table, consisting of several smaller tables measuring 200 x 88 centimeters each. These tables were crafted in the carpentry shop of the Gdańsk Shipyard and were used during the meetings of the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee. Additionally, there is an exhibition titled "Solidarity - Ways to the Agreement" on display.