THE AMERICAN DREAM. THE FIRST GREAT JOURNEY OF HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ

The purpose of the exhibition is to show the United States of America in the second half of the 19th century through the prism of those places visited by Sienkiewicz during his journey of 1876-1878.

The exhibition narration consists of fragments of letters describing cities, people and nature in America. He began his adventure in New York, and travelled to California by the "Railroad of two oceans". He visited Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco, met representatives of the various nations inhabiting the continent, including Indians, Mexicans and Chinese, admired the landscapes of plains, canyons and mountains, and came into contact with wild animals, including such American symbols as bison and coyotes.

The expedition resulted in a whole series of exceptional works that entered the canon of Polish and international literature.

The exhibition includes photographs of locations described in Letters from America; private correspondence; weapons and equipment typical of travellers at that time; unique souvenirs associated with the American railroad and gold fever; cult and utility items of the Indians and items of their clothing.

Exhibition curator: Łukasz Wojtczak

9 April - 27 October 2019

The Palace of Henryk Sienkiewicz in Oblęgorek

Branch of the National Museum in Kielce

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