The Wola Cabinet

Gabinet Wolski

A permanent feature of the Muzeum Woli exhibition is the Gabinet Wolski. It is a casket in which the many-threaded history of the capital is enclosed. It is woven from social and political strands, cultural currents and personal stories.

The whole narrative is divided into fifteen themes that best capture the character and history of Wola. Visually, they are accompanied by selected photographs, museum objects, archival materials and other artifacts. The layout of the Gabinet Wolski has been organized to convey as fully as possible the landscape, cultural and social transformations of the district.

Among the topics presented is “Wola nowożytna” (Early Modern Wola), which traces the oldest history of Wola, before it was incorporated into the city's boundaries. It was here that royal elections took place. The section “Handel” (Trade) offers an overview of Wola's commerce, from the legendary bazaar Kercelak, through PDT, to the glitter of today's shopping and business centres. “Budownictwo społeczne” (Social Housing) refers to an important phenomenon in Wola, the initiatives to build workers' estates, while also drawing attention to the social responsibility of capitalism. “Powstanie warszawskie” (Warsaw Uprising) and “Rzeź Woli” (Massacre of Wola) serve as an introduction to the most tragic events in the capital's history, which permanently shaped the city's identity.