1289
- the oldest entry mentioning the Warsaw town refers to the founding of St. George's Church.

1408
- foundation of New Warsaw, north from the city walls - today's New Town.

1413
- Warsaw became the capital of Mazovia.

1526
- death of the last duke of Mazovia.
- the act of incorporation of Warsaw into Polish Crown together with the whole of Mazovia.

1569-1571
- building of first bridge on Vistula River,

1596
- Warsaw became the capital of the federation of the Polish Kingdom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Polish - Lituanian Commenwealth).

1624
- 8 months long plague.

1655
- capitulation of the city. Swedish occupation is the reason of huge demolition of the city.

1661
- the first polish periodical magazine "Merkuriusz Polski".

1670
- the first post office in Warsaw - on the Krzywe Kolo Street.

1740
- the opening of the Colegium Nobilium, an exclusive military college.

1747
- opening of Zaluski's Library .

1748
- opening of the first Theatre so called Operalnia.

1765
- opening of National Theatre.
- the first lanterns on the streets.

1773
- creation of the Committee of National Education - the first in the world Ministry of Education.

1791
- the first democratic constitution in Europe and the second in the world was voted on May 3 by the Parliament

1795-1806
- occupation of Warsaw by Prus army.

1815-1830
- capital of "Congress Kingdom", which was a part of Russia.

1818
- Warsaw University founded.

1830-1831
- November Insurrection

1833
- the opening of Teatr Wielki in a new built building.

1845
- the inauguration of the first part of the rail-link between Warsaw and Vienna.

1859-1864
- the building of the first steel bridge on Vistula River.

1863-1864
- January Insurection.

1865
- the first horse-tram.

1877
- the first rail bridge.

1908
- initiation of electric traction for city trams.

1918
- Warsaw became again, on November 11, the capital of Poland after regaining independence.

1924
- Warsaw reached a level of 1 million inhabitants.

1925
- the first audition of Polish Radio.

1927
- the first Frederic Chopin piano contest

1937
- the first experimental Television.

1939
- the defense of Warsaw against the German invasion during the Second World War, lasting from September 8-26.

1940
- the creation by German occupant Jewish district.

1944
- 63 days of the Warsaw Uprising lasted from July 1 to November 2. The population of Warsaw's entire left bank was expelled as Hitler planned to destroy the city.

1944-45
- 2.X-16.I - Warsaw completely demolished by special division of Vernichtungskommando.

1945
- troops of the First Polish Army entered the town on January 17. The people returned to their capital en masse and proceeded to rebuilt it.

1951
- the beginning of building subway (many technical problems)

1953
- the end of reconstruction of the Old Town.

1956
- the city - the second time in its history exceeds 1 million of inhabitants.

1971-77
- beginning of reconstruction of the Royal Castle.

1983-95
- building of the sub-way (by the second time) and dedication of its first line.

Warsaw Uprising Anniversary

The 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, one of the most tragic developments of World War II, broke out on August 1st, 1944. It involved a heavy death toll - nearly 300,000 soldiers of Home Army (AK) and civilians (statistically 5,000 people a day) - and resulted in the total destruction of the city.

The Uprising lasted until October 2nd, 1944. Its objective was to liberate Poland's capital from the Germans so that Polish people could meet the approaching Red Army in a free capital city, the beginning of a restored and independent state. Unfortunately, the city remained isolated and for 63 days waged a battle of honour. Some 50,000 soldiers, chiefly young people, took part in the fighting. Nearly half of them were killed. The civilian population suffered enormous losses. Thousands of people died not only during the fighting itself but also after the failure of the Uprising. Some 500,000 people were forced to evacuate.

Hitler decided to raze Warsaw to the ground. He sent military and SS units composed of the worst criminals released from prisons-Germans, Ukrainians and Russians-to exterminate the city. Almost 90 percent of the urban structure in West-bank Warsaw and the property of city residents was destroyed. Not a single family in Warsaw managed to avoid heavy losses as a result of the Uprising. Splendid historic buildings were turned into rubble and only parts of them were later rebuilt. Priceless collections of Warsaw museums and Polish historical records were also destroyed. Residential houses were no longer usable and streets were covered by heaps of rubble.

This year, 60 years have passed since those developments. Over this period, former communist authorities made many efforts to erase or falsify the memory of the Uprising and its participants. However, there were also attempts to establish Warsaw uprising Museum. Twenty three years ago such an institution commemorating the uprising was established, although not as a separate museum but as a department of the Warsaw History Museum.

The present mayor of Warsaw, Lech Kaczyński, the son of a Warsaw Uprising insurgent, identified the establishment of the Museum as one of his most important objectives. Warsaw authorities have already set aside over zl.30 million to convert the building at Przyokopowa Street into a museum.

The interiors are to be austere and finished in concrete. A Freedom Park will be constructed outside, complete with a Remembrance Alley nearby. A 156-meter-long wall featuring the names of the fallen will extend alongside the Alley. A bell named after Warsaw Uprising commander Antoni Chruściel, dubbed Monter, will be placed in the center of the wall. The Alley and Freedom Park will surround a square where assemblies will be held. A monument, chipped, scored with bullets and bearing the most important dates of the Uprising, will be built on the square.

The Museum will incorporate the latest technologies, for example multi-media techniques, in order to attract young visitors. Sewers under the building will be adapted for the needs of the exposition as a reference to Warsaw Uprising realities: Home Army (AK) soldiers used sewers to move from one point of fighting to another. For the time being, only part of the Museum, will be opened to the public. The remaining part, with the largest exposition, will open by the end of 2005.

The collections of the Warsaw Uprising Museum are composed of under 20,000 exhibits including rings, identity cards, armbands used by Warsaw Uprising soldiers, weapons, uniforms and German hardware, and so on. Among the collected exhibits are objects of such symbolic significance as a slice of bread taken from the destroyed city by one of the fighting Poles. Thousands of documents and testimonies offered by participants in the fighting as well as negatives depicting the tragedy of the city will also be on display. A majority of the exhibits were donated by former insurgents and their descendants.