Archeological Museum in Gdańsk

The Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk is a cultural institution run by the Pomeranian Voivodeship self-government. It stands on Mariacka Street, one of the best-known lanes of Gdańsk's Main Town, in a historic townhouse called the House of Naturalists (Dom Przyrodników). For anyone curious about the early history of Pomerania, it combines the story of the region with the story of the building itself.

What is the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk?

The museum is devoted to the past of Pomerania as revealed by archaeological finds. It was founded in the 1950s and has been based at Mariacka 25/26 since the start. Its work covers collecting, studying and presenting artefacts found in the region, and sharing knowledge about the early cultures that lived here long before Gdańsk took its present shape.

As a local-government institution it is overseen by the Pomeranian Voivodeship authorities, which keeps its focus firmly on regional themes. Its collections and exhibitions concentrate on the history of Pomerania from the earliest times to the Middle Ages.

Why is the building worth a look?

The brick house on Mariacka was built at the end of the 16th century, between 1597 and 1599, on the site of an earlier Gothic townhouse. In 1846 the Gdańsk Society of Natural Science moved in, which gave the building its popular name, the House of Naturalists.

The house was badly damaged in the Second World War, and only the front wall and the tower survived. It was rebuilt between 1956 and 1961 to a design by Kazimierz Macur, for the newly established archaeological museum. Visitors today see a building that is both an example of Renaissance architecture and a reminder of Gdańsk's postwar reconstruction.

What is a visit like?

The museum sits in the heart of the Main Town, a few steps from St. Mary's Church and the Motława River. Mariacka Street is known for its narrow cobbled passages, stone terraces in front of the townhouses, Gdańsk's decorative gutter spouts and its many amber workshops, so the walk to the museum is part of the experience. It is worth combining the visit with a stroll around the neighbourhood.

The exhibition themes cover prehistory and the early history of Pomerania. A planned new permanent exhibition was meant to tell the story of the region from the Ice Age to the 14th century, a period known mainly through everyday objects, tools, jewellery and traces of ancient settlements. Finds like these show how people lived before written chronicles appeared.

When to go

The building has undergone renovation in recent years, so before visiting it is best to check the museum's official website for current opening hours, available exhibitions and visiting rules. This matters most in the tourist season, when Mariacka can be very crowded.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk? At Mariacka 25/26 in Gdańsk's Main Town, in the building known as the House of Naturalists.

Who runs the museum? The self-government of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

When was the building constructed? The brick house was built in 1597–1599 and rebuilt after wartime destruction in 1956–1961.

Why is it called the House of Naturalists? After the Gdańsk Society of Natural Science, which was based here from 1846.

Is it a good stop for history lovers? Yes. It links the archaeology of Pomerania with Renaissance Gdańsk architecture and a location on one of the city's most famous streets.