The Polish Cultural Center & Museum

05/23/2026

This Memorial Day weekend it is worth remembering one of the first Polish Americans to give his life for our country - Gen. Casimiir Pulaski in October 1779 at the Battle of Savannah during the American Revolution. On May 16, our Polish American friends "down river" in St. Louis dedicated a new bronze sculpture of Pulaski by noted Wisconsin sculpture Boleslaw Kochanowski at Jefferson Barracks Park. Pulaski's sacrifice leading French troops in a cavalry charge helped pave the way for greater French military and financial assistance in 1780.

05/15/2026

🇵🇱 A vibrant celebration of Kashubian culture

The Kashubian Song and Dance Ensemble from Bytów brought incredible energy and tradition to a performance inside Poland’s Parliament.

With colorful costumes, music, and movement, this performance beautifully showcases the richness of regional Polish heritage.

Did you know? Poland’s current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, is part Kashubian.

👉Subskrybuj Sejm RP na Youtube: https://bit.ly/2OftGKR👉Zasady dyskusji: https://bit.ly/3kYrM18👉Harmonogram obrad: sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/agenda.xsp👉Odwie...

05/13/2026

🔍 Discover your roots, no Polish required!

Join us on May 16 at 10:00a, for a FREE webinar on using Polish-language newspapers in your genealogy research.

Learn how to uncover family stories from historical newspapers in Minnesota and New York.

Featuring:
• Jeff Turkowski
• Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz

🧬 Whether you're just starting or deep into your research, this is a powerful tool you won’t want to miss.

Head to our website to join the webinar:
https://polishmuseumwinona.org/events/

05/10/2026

05/09/2026

Meet Ambassador Analise!

A junior at Winona Senior High School, Analise brings a creative and thoughtful spirit to the exchange program.

She spends her time dancing ballet, figure skating, reading, and practicing calligraphy. She also loves baking sweet treats and being outdoors.

While she may be a bit shy at first, once you get to know her, her personality shines.

“I can’t wait to meet you all and travel to Poland in return!”

05/05/2026

🇵🇱 A meaningful celebration of Polish heritage.

Eleven members of our community, including family and friends, took part in the Polish Constitution Day Mass at St. Stanislaus Basilica.

Pictured with the group are Fr. Patrick Arens and Deacon Justin Green, who helped lead this special service.

Beautiful folk costumes representing four regions of Poland were worn: the Góral Highlanders, Kraków, Warsaw, and the Kashubian homeland, each one honoring the richness and diversity of Polish culture.

A powerful way to celebrate history, faith, and tradition together.

05/04/2026

Ninety two people gathered last night at the museum's Morrison Annex to celebrate Polish Constitution Day and honor the legacy of two Polish American Winona mayors who made a huge difference - Jerry Miller and the late Tom Slaggie. Winona is rated as one of the best small cities in America today because of their non-partisan service, financial stewardship and consistent dedication to building community for nearly three decades.

05/03/2026

𝟯 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗔
Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja to jedno z najważniejszych polskich świąt państwowych, upamiętniające rocznicę uchwalenia ustawy rządowej z 1791 roku. Uchwalona przez Sejm Czteroletni Konstytucja 3 Maja była pierwszą w nowożytnej Europie, a drugą na świecie (po amerykańskiej), nowoczesną konstytucją. Ustawa miała na celu ratowanie suwerenności Rzeczypospolitej, wprowadzenie nowoczesnego ustroju (monarchia konstytucyjna) oraz trójpodziału władzy.Choć reformy zostały przerwane przez interwencję Rosji w 1792 roku, dla wielu pokoleń Polaków Konstytucja 3 Maja pozostała symbolem walki o wolność, jedność i niepodległość. Tradycyjnie organizowane są uroczystości państwowe, a historia tego święta obejmuje okresy zakazów w czasach zaborów i komunistycznych, po 1990 roku wróciło do oficjalnego kalendarza RP. Święto obchodzone jest szczególnie uroczyście przez Polonię w Chicago od wielu dziesiątek lat.

(Na zdjęciu: Jan Matejko, Konstytucja 3 Maja 1791 roku, 1891; fot. Wikipedia)

05/01/2026

This Sunday, as part of our Polish Constitution Day dinner celebration beginning at 4pm, we will have a mini silent auction museum fund-raiser of 2 items. One of them will be sheet of 50 mint US postage stamps from 1975 depicting Polish Jewish American Revolutionary War patriot and fund raiser Haym Salomon of Philadelphia. Salomon gave Tadeusz Kosciuszko the $142 ($4,600 in today's money) he needed for the voyage back to Poland in 1784 (since Kosciuszko hadn't been fully paid yet for his Continental Army service). Learn more about Salomon and how this man from Leszno in partitioned Poland raised the resources needed to get George Washington's Army to Yorktown and victory in 1781. Our Polish American colleagues at the Polish Heritage Center in Panna Maria, Texas held a webinar about Salomon this past Wednesday and you can see a recording to learn more at

Start Date/Time Thursday, April 30, 2026 - 8:02 pm End Date/Time Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - 8:00 pm https://youtu.be/CBne3ccQcmE Education & Outreach Lectures Online Learning Special Events

04/30/2026

Meet Ambassador Kinga ✈️📚

Family is at the heart of everything for Kinga. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s learned patience, leadership, and the importance of staying close.

She shares a special bond with her younger sisters and looks up to her supportive parents - her mom, an incredible cook, and her dad, who can fix just about anything.