Basic Partner info
The idea of creating a regional museum in Rypin arose in the early 1960s. It was a reaction from a society aware of its roots and identity, enthusiastic about the preparations for the Millennium of the Polish State celebrations.
The history of the building was of immense significance in choosing a location for the museum. The object occupied by the museum dates back to 1895, when it was commissioned as a building for the Russian administration. During World War I, it served as a military hospital. After Poland regained independence, the building was handed over to the State Police. The darkest period in the building’s history falls in the autumn of 1939, when the Nazi occupier established the Gestapo and Selbstschutz in the building. The cellars of the “House of Execution” became the place of martyrdom for landowners, intellectuals, priests, peasants, and Jews – a total of about 2,000 people.
The drama that unfolded in the “Cellars of the House of Execution” – as it was named after the war – became the determinant for commemorating this place. The efforts of Edward Koźmiński, Roman Piotrowski, and members of the Rypin Land Lovers’ Society led to the creation of the Regional Chamber of National Remembrance on May 8, 1968 – presenting two exhibitions: a martyrological and an archaeological one.
The great interest in the Chamber of Remembrance resulted in the transfer of additional rooms on the ground floor of the building for museum exhibitions in 1975. Subsequently, in 1976, the Department of Culture and Art of the Voivodeship Office and the Museum of the Kuyavian and Dobrzyń Land in Włocławek guaranteed support and assistance in establishing the Museum of the Dobrzyń Land in Rypin. After four years of renovation, the Museum of the Dobrzyń Land was opened on July 22, 1980, as a branch of the museum from Włocławek.
In the period from 1980 to 2002, the museum conducted extensive substantive activities, which included numerous exhibitions, scientific symposia, and conferences. The Museum of the Dobrzyń Land also engaged in publishing activities at that time, as evidenced by publications highly regarded in academic circles. Regarding educational activities, it is worth mentioning hundreds of museum lessons, meetings with youth, and interest groups. Due to the need for thorough renovation, substantive activities were suspended for the years 2002-2007.
The Museum of the Dobrzyń Land, after modernization financed by the state budget, the ZPORR program, and the city budget, was reopened on April 14, 2007. Since then, in new premises, the museum has generated a significantly richer cultural offer. This has clearly influenced attendance, which after 5 months of operation reached over 4,500 visitors. During this time, over 15 cultural events were organized, including temporary exhibitions, the opening of permanent exhibitions, multimedia presentations, museum lessons, papers and lectures, and two large outdoor events – the Rypin Fair and the Knights’ Festival at the Radziki Castle. Additionally, the museum in Rypin has currently taken over the care of the Association of Non-Professional Artists of the Rypin District.