I was just in Krakow and the museums emphasized that krakow was part of austria. In the game krakow is independent but under austrian influence, which is more accurate?
-edit- to give some more context, victoria 2 has a "sphere of influence" system in which great powers can add a weaker state into its sphere of influence. By doing so that state gives the great power priority access to its markets, and is able to secure an alliance that the weaker state must honor (with some exceptions.) So while the great power doesn't have direct control over the weaker state, they have a lot of leverage and influence.
Free city of Kraków was a remnant of partitioned Napoleonic Duchy of Poland. Under Treaty of Vienna >Cracow with its territory, shall be considered for ever as a free, independant, and strictly neutral city, under the protection of the Three High Contracting Powers.
Three High Contracting Powers being Russian Empire, Prussia and Austria.
It was nominally neutral, not allowed to give asylum to political prisoners, hide criminals from other countries, participate in weapons trade and such, but it quickly became one of the primary centers of Polish independence movement.
By the time Victoria timeline starts, that is after November Uprising, in which Kraków was instrumental, it lost most of its privileges, with Austrian police on the streets and garrisoned by Austrian soldiers. After Kraków Uprising in 1846 it was annexed by Austria.
So museum version was likely 'lies to the children', simplified version of the truth.