Virtual Galleries, trips and tours are very popular from some time around the world. So there is no surprise, that many museums are trying to build their image in the net too, more or less successful, but trying to gain interest through the new media. Let's examine them.

Let's send on the first front line the biggest military museum in Poland - Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw. In its collection one can find over 100.000 objects from medieval to modern times. Next to the typical military collection they have paintings, books and everything what is associated to the Polish and worlds armies. The collection is outsanding and for sure there are many gems for any military history lover. Unfortunatelly the permanent exhibition is quite oldfashioned but all indications are it won't last long. The museum is changing its present headquaters and is building a new, modern museum in the Warsaw. The time will show how good it will be.

The virtual gallery of the permanent exhibition is interesting, especially for all those who cannot visit is personally. But speaking the truth it is far from perfect and full of 'bugs':

- it works only in Internet Explorer (for me anyway). Mozilla Firefox and Chrome couldn't install a needed plugin for the virtual tour,

- the engine is a little bit messy - you'll find yourself spinning around too often and without your will, although you can stop this movement by clicking somewhere in the picture,

- the quality is terrible. It seems to me that for faster browsing, museum decided to use low resolution samples, so no details can be seen in the gallery,

- it is only in Polish - anyway I couldn't find any English version of the tour

For those who might have some problems watching the original tour I prepared some screenshots. For those would like to experience it for yourself, please go to the following address:

http://www.muzeumwp.pl/wycieczka/

If you're interested for more from this museum, you can find few related books in my bookstore:

GALLERY

• The entrance. Symbol [.] leads to next panorama view. "i" displays additional information on objects. Movement is possible with a mouse or touchpad The entrance. Symbol [.] leads to next panorama view. "i" displays additional information on objects. Movement is possible with a mouse or touchpad
• Medieval times Medieval times
• View on medieval crossbows and 15th c. cannon. In the background 19th c. painting by Kossak of the Tannenberg (Grunwald) battle 1410 View on medieval crossbows and 15th c. cannon. In the background 19th c. painting by Kossak of the Tannenberg (Grunwald) battle 1410
• additinal info window - The early medieval helmet of Ruthenian type, found in Greater Poland, used in Poland in 10th-11th centuries additinal info window - The early medieval helmet of Ruthenian type, found in Greater Poland, used in Poland in 10th-11th centuries
• Collection of 16th centuries armours. This is the biggest collection in Poland, while in other museums not many of them survived the II WW Collection of 16th centuries armours. This is the biggest collection in Poland, while in other museums not many of them survived the II WW
• Full body and horse armour from the 16th c., used by heavy cavalry Full body and horse armour from the 16th c., used by heavy cavalry
• Painting of the Orsza battle (1514). One of the most detailed paintings of the Polish army. Plus some 16th c. cannons. Painting of the Orsza battle (1514). One of the most detailed paintings of the Polish army. Plus some 16th c. cannons.
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• Portrait of the king Stefan Batory - one of the greatest commanders and great politician.Next to the painting is the most beautiful Hungarian-Polish type sabre in Polish collections, attributed to the King himself Portrait of the king Stefan Batory - one of the greatest commanders and great politician.Next to the painting is the most beautiful Hungarian-Polish type sabre in Polish collections, attributed to the King himself
• Polish heavy cavalry of the late 16th and 17th c. Similar Polish armours from 16th c. can be seen in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Polish heavy cavalry of the late 16th and 17th c. Similar Polish armours from 16th c. can be seen in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
• Short note on Polish hussar armour. This one is attributed to Stanislaw Skorkowski, secretary of the King Wladislaw IV (1595-1648). This is the only attributed hussar armour, so it was used to date all other armours around the world. This attribution has been questioned lately though Short note on Polish hussar armour. This one is attributed to Stanislaw Skorkowski, secretary of the King Wladislaw IV (1595-1648). This is the only attributed hussar armour, so it was used to date all other armours around the world. This attribution has been questioned lately though
• 19th c. painting (reproduction) of 19th c. painting (reproduction) of
• Polish battle karabela-sabre. Great set of this rare weapon! Polish battle karabela-sabre. Great set of this rare weapon!
• Polish hussars sabre. Another great collection! Polish hussars sabre. Another great collection!
• Polish light cavalry. On the far left the bechter - Russian type of armour made of chain mail and plates, used in Poland by some units. Polish light cavalry. On the far left the bechter - Russian type of armour made of chain mail and plates, used in Poland by some units.
• Polish commanders - hetmans Polish commanders - hetmans
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• Second room of the exhibition - 17th century. As you can see Polish armament of 16th-17th c. was the same as in the Western Europe. Second room of the exhibition - 17th century. As you can see Polish armament of 16th-17th c. was the same as in the Western Europe.
• Impressing set of Polish light cavalry figures - the pancerny. A lot of unique sabres and kalkan-shields! Impressing set of Polish light cavalry figures - the pancerny. A lot of unique sabres and kalkan-shields!
• Amongst the light cavalry gruop a beautiful chainmail attributed to the king Jan Casimir (1609-1672) of Transylvanian type. Amongst the light cavalry gruop a beautiful chainmail attributed to the king Jan Casimir (1609-1672) of Transylvanian type.
• The Pancerny - light cavalry with misiurka-helmet, kalka-shield, eastern-type bow, chainmail and Polish type sabre. It was the main type of cavalry during Vienna Battle in 1683. What might be striking is strong similarity to the Turkish soldiers. The Pancerny - light cavalry with misiurka-helmet, kalka-shield, eastern-type bow, chainmail and Polish type sabre. It was the main type of cavalry during Vienna Battle in 1683. What might be striking is strong similarity to the Turkish soldiers.
• King Jan III Sobieskie - the winner of the Vienna Battle in 1683, wearing a karacena type of armour King Jan III Sobieskie - the winner of the Vienna Battle in 1683, wearing a karacena type of armour
• The 19th c. imagination of Vienna battle The 19th c. imagination of Vienna battle
• 18th century room. 18th century room.
• Collection of the early 18th c. sabres Collection of the early 18th c. sabres
• Top of the grenadier's hat 1697-1733 Top of the grenadier's hat 1697-1733
• 18th c. hussars armour 18th c. hussars armour
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• Small-swords and sabres used in Poland in the 18th c. During the 18th c. we can observe two types of Polish fashion in weapons - Polish with sabre and western-european with small-sword at the side Small-swords and sabres used in Poland in the 18th c. During the 18th c. we can observe two types of Polish fashion in weapons - Polish with sabre and western-european with small-sword at the side
• The highest civial decoration - The White Eagle Order with Star. The star was usually sewed to the attire. The highest civial decoration - The White Eagle Order with Star. The star was usually sewed to the attire.
• Buzdygan-mace Buzdygan-mace
• Enamelled cartridge pouch from 18th c. Enamelled cartridge pouch from 18th c.
• Collection of Polish sabres and catridge-pouches from the 18th c. Collection of Polish sabres and catridge-pouches from the 18th c.
• Saddle attributed to the King Stanislaw Leszczynski, early 18th c., of eastern type. It was used during the coronation ceremony in 1705 Saddle attributed to the King Stanislaw Leszczynski, early 18th c., of eastern type. It was used during the coronation ceremony in 1705
• View of the late 18th c. room with great standards. View of the late 18th c. room with great standards.
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• View of the late 18th c. room. Impressing collection of flags and military banners considering how few of the survived the IIWW View of the late 18th c. room. Impressing collection of flags and military banners considering how few of the survived the IIWW
• Tadeusz Kosciuszko period - the hero of two nations: USA and Poland, 1794 y. Tadeusz Kosciuszko period - the hero of two nations: USA and Poland, 1794 y.
• Polish uniforms from the late of the 18th c. Polish uniforms from the late of the 18th c.
• Private's infantry cap from the 1789-1794 period Private's infantry cap from the 1789-1794 period
• Private's Uniform of the National Cavalry Private's Uniform of the National Cavalry
• Scythes used by the peasants during Kosciuszko insurection. Famous troops with a such deadly weapons were a terror to a Russian troops in 1794 Scythes used by the peasants during Kosciuszko insurection. Famous troops with a such deadly weapons were a terror to a Russian troops in 1794
• Sabres and painting of the military persons, end of the 18th c. Sabres and painting of the military persons, end of the 18th c.
• Napoleonic perdiod - some swords and sabres used by Polish troops under Napoleon I command Napoleonic perdiod - some swords and sabres used by Polish troops under Napoleon I command
• Uniforms used by Polish troops during Napoleonic period Uniforms used by Polish troops during Napoleonic period
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• Hat of Vistula Legion 1813-1814 Hat of Vistula Legion 1813-1814
• Polish military banners, early 19th c. Polish military banners, early 19th c.
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• Uniforms of the Polish Kingdom 1815-1830 Uniforms of the Polish Kingdom 1815-1830
• Ulan's uniform. The hat is the famous Polish "rogatywka" with square top, very popular amongst the Poles during Napoleonic period, then used around the world. Ulan's uniform. The hat is the famous Polish "rogatywka" with square top, very popular amongst the Poles during Napoleonic period, then used around the world.
• General's uniform used by the tsar Alexander I, who was the king of Polish Kingdom at the time. The Polish Kingdom created in 1815 was dependend on Russia and is not considered by the historians as a independent Polish Kingdom General's uniform used by the tsar Alexander I, who was the king of Polish Kingdom at the time. The Polish Kingdom created in 1815 was dependend on Russia and is not considered by the historians as a independent Polish Kingdom
• Paintings and arms from the November uprising against Russian, 1831 Paintings and arms from the November uprising against Russian, 1831
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• Outside of the main exhibition. Outside of the main exhibition.
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