Depot History Centre

The Depot History Centre is a museum at Grabiszyńska 184 street in Wrocław, opened on 16 September 2016 in the historic building of a former tram depot. The institution tells the story of the post-war history of the city and the region.

The former depot building

The museum occupies a brick building from the late 19th century, originally built for Wrocław's municipal trams. The building survived the Second World War and the siege of Wrocław, though it was partly damaged at the time. After 1945 it served as bus depot number VII, run by the municipal transport company, until 2015. Only then did the building undergo a thorough transformation from a technical facility into a museum space, while retaining its industrial, brick character, still visible today in the centre's architecture.

The museum's creation

The centre opened after a thorough renovation, which cost more than 36 million złoty and was partly financed with Norwegian and European Economic Area funds. The venue is run by the Remembrance and Future Centre, which has operated since 2007.

The permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition is titled "Wrocław 1945-2016" and is divided into eight chapters telling the story of the city's post-war reconstruction. The scenography recreates, among other things, the pre-war Lwowska street, a Warsaw sewer, and a butcher's shop from the 1980s. The exhibition displays more than 500 original exhibits, and covers an area of 1,980 square metres. The museum occupies a total of 2.3 hectares of land.

Subject matter

The museum deals primarily with the history of Lower Silesia, and especially the history of Wrocław after 1945. Wrocław's Solidarity movement and the subject of the Recovered Territories, that is, the areas that changed state allegiance after the war and had to be resettled by a new population, occupy a special place in the institution's programme.

Nearby

Green areas and further museums lie nearby. Grabiszyński Park is close by, and towards the city centre you will find Muzeum Współczesne Wrocław and the Bunker at Strzegomski Square.

A little further, closer to the Old Town, lies the National Forum of Music, and on the way you can stop at the New Synagogue in Wrocław.

Practical information

• Address: Grabiszyńska 184, Wrocław, Grabiszyn-Grabiszynek district
• Getting there: tram lines 4, 5, 11 and 14, and bus lines 124, 126 and 134
• What to expect: the "Wrocław 1945-2016" exhibition, staged in scenography recreating the streets and interiors of the post-war city
• Opening hours: to be checked before your visit