While I was on study abroad in Warsaw, Poland, the place I visited most behind the Palace of Culture and Science, where I had classes every day, was Old Town. Why? Simply put, a trip to Old Town in Warsaw is like taking a journey back in time. It is the gem of the city […]
Many of our students are profoundly moved by how vividly the Warsaw Uprising is remembered in Poland. Those who fought are revered with the respect of founding fathers. Thier symbols and history are preserved and highlighted across the city in museums, monuments, and graffitti. The narrative is popular in modern film (such as the recent […]
One of the last things I did before wrapping up my semester in Warsaw, Poland was pay a visit to the Copernicus Science Center. In this article I will share some background on the center, talk about my visit and what I learned, and finally share some photos from this sweet place! Background The science […]
Neon signs first began to populate Warsaw’s streets in the inter-war years when The Second Polish Republic was, briefly, an independent state. WWII destroyed most of Warsaw and nearly all of its then-popular neon signs. The Communists maintained control of the country and officially frowned on the decorative advertisings. Although old town was rebuilt nearly […]
Muzeum Wojska Polskiego (Polish Army Museum) Aleje Jerozolimskie 3 Ticket Prices: Normal- 15 PLN Reduced- 8 PLN Saturdays- Free Admission Website Warsaw is especially associated with its place in the Second World War, and coming to Poland, I was already aware of that specific era in Poland history. However, I was curious about the other […]
As a historian of World War II with a focus on Holocaust studies, visiting Poland was a must since the atrocities of Hitler’s Final Solution predominately occurred in Poland. Today, there are countless commemorations to the Holocaust on almost every street in Poland, it seems. Museums tell the stories, plaques mark the walls of buildings, […]
Throughout my stay in Poland, I have found that one of the most pressing concerns in society is the role the Catholic Church plays in state and public affairs. A Croatian theater director, Oliver Frljić, known for creating theatrical productions that focus on pressing contemporary problems in specific countries, has now produced a play here […]
Street art is a controversial issue. Legally, it can be considered vandalism and, to some, creates the impression that the area is unloved and untended. Regardless of personal opinions on legality, the line between graffiti and art is subjective and arbitrary. From humble beginnings of tagging in the United States to Banksy’s recent Dismaland bemusement […]
When I lived in Warsaw, a friend visited who had spent the summer doing archaeological digs around Italy. So what could be the oldest and most beautiful Polish place I could take her to rival ancient Roman artifacts? Wilanów Palace, Poland’s only remaining Baroque residence. The palace houses a museum and boasts an elaborate garden […]
