A journey along the trail of Podkarpackie museums should begin with the place that revolutionized the world's energy industry. The Ignacy Lukasiewicz Museum of Oil and Gas Industry in Bóbrka is not only the oldest oil industry museum in the world, but also the birthplace of the global oil industry. Founded in 1961, the museum is located on the site of the world's oldest oil mine, which has been in continuous operation since 1854. It was here that Ignacy Lukasiewicz, a Polish pharmacist and inventor, conducted pioneering work on oil distillation, which led to the construction of the world's first oil lamp.

Visiting the museum, you can see original oil wells from the 19th century, including the world's oldest well 'Franek' from 1860, which still produces oil. The open-air museum also features reconstructions of old workshops, forges and original drilling equipment. Of particular interest is the reconstructed Lukasiewicz workshop, where you can see what the oil distillation process looked like. The museum is surrounded by a picturesque park with more than 500 species of trees and shrubs, which makes the visit even more enjoyable.

Nearby, in Krosno, is the Podkarpackie Museum, an institution with a rich history dating back to 1954. It is housed in a historic 17th century building, which in itself is a valuable architectural monument. The museum is famous for one of the largest collections of kerosene lamps in Europe, with more than 3,000 exhibits. This collection perfectly complements the knowledge gained in Bóbrka, showing how Lukasiewicz's invention changed the daily lives of people around the world.

In addition to lamps, the museum has an impressive archaeological collection, including unique finds from the Ottoman culture period (1650-1350 BC). Noteworthy is an exhibition on the history of the city of Krosno, presenting its development from the Middle Ages to the present day. Particularly valuable is a collection of medieval coins found during excavations in the region, including a rare treasure of silver denarii from the 11th century discovered in nearby Trzcinica.

The two museums differ in character - while the museum in Bóbrka is a sprawling open-air museum, ideal for longer, family trips during the spring and summer seasons (ticket prices are mid-level), the Podkarpackie Museum in Krosno is a classic museum facility, perfect for any time of year, offering more affordable ticket prices. However, they share a common thread - the story of pioneering achievements that changed the course of history not only of the region, but also of the world.

The Subcarpathian region is a region where different cultures and traditions have coexisted for centuries. An excellent testimony to this is the Museum of Lemko Culture in Zyndranowa, a unique place founded in 1968 by Teodor Gocz, a Lemko cultural activist. The museum was created out of a need to preserve the heritage of the Lemkos, an ethnic group that was forcibly resettled from the Low Beskid area as a result of the 'Wisła' action in 1947. Teodor Gocz, himself a victim of these resettlements, after returning to his native village, decided to create a place that would save the culture of his ancestors from oblivion.

The museum is an open-air skansen, where the centerpiece is an authentic Lemko chyzha (hut) from 1860. Inside, the original furnishings have been preserved, showing what daily life was like for the Lemkos before World War II. Here you can see traditional household utensils, agricultural tools, folk costumes and a rich collection of icons - an integral part of Lemkos' spiritual culture. Particularly valuable is a collection of old photographs documenting the life of Lemkos in villages before their displacement.

The open-air museum also has an exhibition of militaria from the First and Second World Wars, recalling the tragic events that befell the area. Every year in June, the museum organizes the Lemko Culture Festival 'Od Rusal do Jana', which attracts folklore lovers from all over Poland and abroad. It is an opportunity to listen to traditional Lemko music, see folk dances and taste regional dishes.

Moving to Stalowa Wola, it is worth visiting the Alfons Karpinski Painting Gallery - a place dedicated to the work of one of the most outstanding Polish painters of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Alfons Karpinski, born in 1875 in Rozwadów (now part of Stalowa Wola), became famous primarily as a portraitist and painter of flowers. The gallery is located in a historic villa from 1923, which in itself is a gem of modernist architecture.

The collection includes more than 50 paintings by the artist, including his famous portraits of upper-class women, still lifes with flowers and landscapes. Of particular interest are the portraits of ladies in elegant dresses, which brought Karpinski international fame and the nickname 'painter of elegant women'. It is worth noting the artist's characteristic painting technique - light, free brushstrokes and subtle colors.

The gallery also holds temporary exhibitions featuring the work of other artists associated with the region, as well as art workshops for children and young people. This is a highly recommended place for art lovers who appreciate intimate, atmospheric exhibition spaces.

Juxtaposing the two institutions is an interesting contrast - the Museum of Lemko Culture is a rustic, authentic outdoor space, ideal for summer excursions (tickets are reasonably priced), while the Karpinski Gallery offers a more sophisticated, artistic experience in an elegant interior, available year-round (ticket prices are slightly higher). However, they share a common mission - to preserve and promote the unique cultural heritage of the Podkarpackie region.

Krosno, nicknamed 'the city of glass,' has been famous for its glassmaking traditions for centuries. The Glass Heritage Center, opened in 2012, is a modern museum facility that presents the history and present day of the craft in an interactive way. Located in the heart of the old town, in historic cellars beneath Krosno's market square, the center combines the functions of a museum, gallery and living craft workshop.

The center's biggest attraction is the opportunity to watch master glassmakers at work. In the demonstration glassworks you can see the entire process of creating glass masterpieces - from heating the glass mass in a furnace at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Celsius, through molding, to final grinding and decorating. What's more, under the guidance of experienced glassworkers, visitors can try their hand at glass blowing themselves - an experience that remains in the memory for a long time.

The center has an impressive collection of historical and contemporary art glass, including unique products from Krosno glassworks from the 19th and 20th centuries. Particularly valuable is the collection of Art Nouveau glass and exhibits showing the evolution of decorative techniques over the centuries. The interactive exhibition 'History of Glass' allows visitors to trace the development of glassmaking from antiquity to modern times.

Design lovers will find the gallery of contemporary artistic glass interesting, presenting works by the most outstanding Polish artists. The center also organizes workshops for decorating glass with various techniques - from painting to engraving, which are very popular with visitors of all ages.

In Rzeszow, on the other hand, there is a place that takes adults back to the days of childhood, and shows the youngest children what their parents' and grandparents' evenings in front of the TV looked like. The Museum of Bedtime Cartoons from the collection of Wojciech Jama is the only such facility in Poland, and probably also in Europe. It was established in 2008 thanks to the passion of collector Wojciech Jama, who for years collected memorabilia related to popular bedtime shows.

The museum's collection includes more than 11,000 exhibits related to the iconic fairy tales, which for decades made Polish children's evenings more pleasant. Here you can see the original puppets and puppets used during the production of such bedtime cartoons as 'Teddy Bear Uszatek', 'Colargol' and 'The Adventures of Filemon the Cat'. Particularly valuable are the original character and set designs by prominent Polish animators, including Witold Giersz and Edward Sturlis.

The museum also has a rich collection of books, comic books, records, toys and other items related to the characters of the cartoons. Interactive stations allow visitors to watch excerpts from iconic cartoons, and a special screening room regularly shows archival episodes. For many adults, a visit to the museum is a sentimental journey to the times of childhood, and for children - a fascinating lesson in the history of Polish animation.

Comparing the two institutions, one can see that the Glass Heritage Center offers a more interactive experience, with the opportunity to attend workshops and live screenings (ticket prices are higher, but include attendance at the shows). The Dobranocek Museum, on the other hand, is a more classic exhibition, though also with interactive elements, available at a lower price. The Glass Center requires more time to visit (at least 2-3 hours), while the Dobranocek Museum can be visited in about an hour. However, both establishments are perfect for family outings, offering attractions for both children and adults, regardless of the season.

Podkarpackie's museums and galleries form a fascinating mosaic that reflects the region's cultural richness. From the industrial heritage of Bóbrka, to the ethnographic treasures of Zyndranowa, the artistic collections of Stalowa Wola, the artisanal traditions of Krosno, to the pop-cultural phenomena presented in Rzeszów - each of these places tells a different part of Podkarpackie's history, together creating a complete picture of this unique region.