Muzea historyczne – pomiędzy pamięcią zbiorową a polityką pamięci historycznej

Memory, historical policy and historical museums have become very popular in recent times – both in academic discourse and in public debate. The article describes the role of historical museums in collective memory and the infl uence of historical policy on them. The text includes a defi nition of collective memory, its traits and functions, a categorization of memory vehicles, as well as an explanation of the concept of historical policy and its positive and negative aspects. In the part dedicated to historical museums the author shows their importance for collective memory, their connections with historical policy, their beginnings and present-day importance in Poland, and provides a review of the last years’ main investments in Polish historical museums