Museum exhibits and collections can be presented in a variety of ways. Studying how museum displays have developed over the years can tell us much about the history of science.

The Muzeum Emigracji, established in 2012, is a notable exemplar of the burgeoning narrative history museums in Poland and, notably, the only Polish migration museum to date. Its permanent exhibition traces the history of Polish emigration from the 19th century to the present. In this context, this examination, grounded in migration and museum research, scrutinizes the representation of Polish migrants and their descendants within the exhibition section titled “Polonia and the Poles in the World”. This analysis cen-ters on the narratives presented therein.

The central contention posits that the organizing principle of the exhibition revolves around a national narrative: the migrants’ history unfolds predominantly from the perspective of their country of origin. Concurrently, the exhibition continues to regard migrants and their progeny as integral components of the Polish national community. They are portrayed as a valuable resource that enhances the standing of the Polish nation abroad or fulfils various roles in its service. Consequently, the multifaceted identity concepts of the migrants fade into the background within this representation.