![\"Property](\"http:\/\/mwb.com.pl\/mwb2017\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/nowy2-300x191.jpg\")
Until World War I, the premises at 7 Kili\u0144skiego Street had been occupied by the supply service of the Russian 6th Army Corps, stationed in Bia\u0142ystok and in the nearby localities. During the war, the old building had been demolished and only in 1930 a new one was erected, called a rotunda by the inhabitants due to its characteristic appearance. It housed the residential units and a warehouse of the building materials. Fortunately, it had not suffered too much during World War II and in 1945 it was handed over to the School of Painting and Artistic Craft (currently the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Supra\u015bl). The next owner of the facility was the State Music School, conducting its activities at Kili\u0144skiego Street in the years 1960\u20131973.\nThe new headquarters of the museum was created as a permanent exhibition entitled \u2018The History of the Polish Arms\u2019, presenting weapons and military activities over almost a thousand years (from the 10th to the 20th century). The quickly growing collection and active scientific activity of the employees of the museum created a need for the museum to become independent. In 1976, a decision was taken to grant the existing branch a status of an independent unit under the name of the Army Museum in Bia\u0142ystok. Its first director was Col. Zygmunt Kosztyla, Ph.D. (1929\u00ac\u20131987). The founder of the Bia\u0142ystok museum was also an author related to many works on the history of the region.
\nThe next director of the Army Museum was Lt. Col. Janusz Figura (1947\u20131997), and then Krzysztof Filipow, Ph.D., Sc.D. Since a beginning of 2010, Robert Sadowski fulfilled a role of the director. In the same year, an intensive work began on changing the permanent exhibition. Within three years exhibitions were created: \u2018Between Two Wars 1914\u20131939\u2019, \u2018Against Two Enemies. Military History of Podlasie and its Inhabitants in the Years 1939\u20131956\u2019and\u2018Polish Army 1956\u20132010\u2019. Using the innovative and interactive methods of presenting the exhibits, they continue a tradition of bringing the knowledge of the past to the visitors, in particular the military history of the region. They also form a foundation of the implemented educational and social programmes.
\nSince 1980, the Military History Research Centre has been operating at the Museum. It organises the scientific conferences and also carries out the extensive publishing activities. Here, it is worth mentioning such publications as the \u2018Scientific Journal of the Army Museum\u2019 and the \u2018Studies and Materials for the Military History\u2019. The employees of the Centre conduct research on the military history, first and foremost, in the region, but also in Poland and Europe. They also cooperate with the academic employees of the University of Bia\u0142ystok.
\nThe Army Museum in Bia\u0142ystok is the largest institution of this type in the Podlasie Province and one of the most willingly visited museums. In 2018, it reached a turnout of over 40,000 visitors.
\nWithin the 50 years of activity, the Army Museum has gathered a substantial collection of exhibits. They have originated from the purchases and excavations, but also from the gifts of the towninhabitants and local military units. Our collections include the white weapon from the Middle Ages to the Uhlan swords, firearms from almost all European countries, as well as the pieces of the equipment and uniforms (mainly Polish, German and Russian). An acquisition of the new exhibits aims at recreating an appearance of the soldiers from the specific historical periods. A collection of the historical documents is a separate collection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"