National Maritime Museum, Gdansk

The National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, established in 1962, is a prominent institution dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Poland's maritime history and its economic impact through the ages. Initially housed in the medieval Gdańsk Crane, the museum has significantly expanded its reach and collections over the years.

In its early years, the museum began branching out, with the opening of its first branch, the Lighthouse Museum in the Rozewie Lighthouse, in 1963. This expansion continued with the inauguration of the Fishery Museum on the Hel Peninsula in 1972. In the same year, the museum was renamed the Polish Maritime Museum and elevated to the status of a national institution.

Significant developments occurred in 1977 when the museum acquired and restored a building adjacent to the Crane, establishing The Colonial Collection. The expansion continued in 1984 with the opening of the Vistula River Museum in Tczew and the inclusion of the sailing vessel Dar Pomorza as a museum ship. Another notable addition was the Sołdek, the first ocean-going steamer built in Gdańsk post-World War II, which became part of the museum's "fleet" in 1989. That same year, the museum also took over the restored granaries on Ołowianka Island, which became the main museum building and significantly enhanced its capacity to showcase maritime artifacts and exhibits.

In 2012, the museum opened the Maritime Culture Centre in the building formerly occupied by the Colonial Collection, adding another dimension to its offerings. A year later, in 2013, the institution adopted its current name: the National Maritime Museum.

The museum's most recent expansion was in 2016, with the inauguration of the Shipwreck Conservation Centre in Tczew, situated near the Vistula River Museum. This new branch further underscores the museum's commitment to preserving and presenting maritime history and culture in Poland.