“Welcome to the Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum,” says Tim Breza with exuberance. “Would you like a tour?”
I scan the large expanse and see photos, exhibits, and displays—no flashing neon or electronic kiosks. There is a story to tell, and the men and women whose ancestors came from Kashubia have worked hard to tell it.
So what are they saying? What are its volunteers and curators conveying? I read on the website: “The museum strives to preserve and promote Polish and Kashubian heritage. Located in Winona, Minnesota, our museum offers a vibrant and immersive experience into the rich traditions, history, and cultural contributions of the Polish and Kashubian communities.”
Still unsure, I remain quiet as Tim begins the tour.
As soon as he shows me a map, I get it. Kashubia is a specific region of Poland. I have been there, I tell him. I was in Gdansk.
The city is where, in the 1980s, the Polish trade union became the first independent labor union in a country belonging to the Soviet bloc.
Solidarity was founded in September 1980, was forcibly suppressed by the Polish government in December 1981, and reemerged in 1989 to become the first opposition movement to participate in free elections in a Soviet-bloc nation since the 1940s. Solidarity subsequently formed a coalition government with Poland’s United Workers’ Party (PUWP), after which its leaders dominated the national government.
Tim tells me that the museum has a banner from this time, signed by Lech Wałęsa, who led the movement.
Now I am engaged.
Tim tells me that in the mid-1800s, there was poverty and oppressive policies by the Prussian government. Men and families heard of Winona and began to understand the country’s expansion westward. Business was booming, good farmland was available, and jobs were plentiful.
Winona was the gateway between the eastern industry and the western farmland.
Exhibits highlight 150 years of Kashubian and Polish life in southeast Minnesota, showcasing traditions from the past and hope for the future.
On display are numerous photographs that bring the exhibits together. Traditional clothes are displayed, along with unbelievably created art, household items, and objects reflecting work life, among other items.
I do not have Polish ancestors. My Swedish great-grandparents came to Minnesota for much the same reason, though: to make a living, prosper, and live in freedom.
As I look at each item, knowing it has a story all its own, I am glad I walked into a museum that I didn’t know much about until I met Tim.
For more information, click here.
