Historical exhibition

The main building houses an exhibition presenting the history of the Polish Tatras. Photographs, archival documents and publications present a history of the Podhale region from prehistoric times, through first human settlements, the development of towns and villages, the development of Zakopane from a small village into a health resort and centre of the arts and culture in the interwar period.^[4] The exhibition presents the time of Zakopane's rapid development and the emergence of a society of active artists and social activists in Podhale at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Tytus Chałubiński, Stanisław Witkiewicz and many other Polish artists had chosen Zakopane as their resort of choice, fascinated by the local folklore and nature.^[4] The exhibition traces further developments of the city and region until the present day.

Ethnographic exhibition

The ethnographic exhibition presents, among others, an interior of a typical 19th century Podhale cottage, with two spaces – the "white" and "black" rooms separated by a vestibule. An original entrance door decorated with diagonal wooden pegs – originally part of Stanisław Wójciak's house in Kościeliska – was purchased by the museum in 1905 and now leads to the reconstruction of the cottage. The inside of the cottage presents the way of life of 19th century Podhale families. Daily life concentrated in the ‘black’ chamber, its walls darkened by the smoke from the stove.^[4]

Other exhibits include the historic clothing of Podhale Gorals and the arts and crafts. The Ethnographic department is the second-oldest in the museum and its ethnographic collection features approximately 10,750 items. Many enthusiasts of the culture of Podhale Gorals donated historical items and clothing to The Tatra Museum: Countess Róża Krasińska, Bronisław Dembowski, and Zygmunt Gnatowski. In 1949, after the museum was nationalised, ethnographers were employed to acquire items missing from the already rich and valuable collection. The new acquisitions were mainly paintings and a large collection of glass painting, as well as folk sculpture and crafts, especially made of metal and leather. Many of these items are on display in the main building.^[5]