CLEVELAND — Eugene Bak is extending a special invitation to history and culture lovers this Polish Constitution Weekend.
“We want people to come and visit us over here,” Bak said.
He’s inviting you to visit the Polish-American Cultural Center.
“This is the best kept secret in Cleveland,” Bak said.
Walking around the museum, he said many of the exhibits display artifacts that were donated by Polish people who have ties to Cleveland.
“He was a bombardier in the Air Force and collected all these items,” Bak said, pointing at a display of military uniforms.
Sharing these stories is just one of the ways Bak is preserving Polish culture, but he also has a powerful story of his own. Originally from a small village in Poland, he said his family had to flee.
“We were deported as a family, and then we escaped from Russia,” he said. “My father joined the Polish army in exile, and the families were allowed to, you know, go into refugee camps.”
Bak said he lived in many camps around the world.
“In Iran and in Pakistan, in India, and then we went to England for four years,” he said. “I went to school over there and then, in 1952, came over here to the United States.”
Outside in their heritage garden, Bak said he wants to modernize the museum’s experience.
“We can, kind of, improve, not improve, but introduce this cultural center to the 21st century,” he said.
Although he’s since transitioned out of his role as executive director, he still has a vision for the center’s development.
“That was very important to me, to have that transition, that there’s kind of a seamless transition to have this available for people to come over here, and be able to to see it visually, but also on the internet,” Bak said.
Darek Wojno is leading the modernization efforts by first preparing to offer a virtual tour. However, he said following in Bak’s steps won’t be easy.
“He’s the icon,” he said. “He’s like John Paul II, so no one will be good enough after him. But yes, I think that I am in the good directions [sic], so we can go forward for [the] 21st century, and explore this beautiful museum [and] garden to talk to new people.”
The Polish-American Cultural Center is located at 6501 Lansing Ave, Cleveland, OH 44105.
