National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library
The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids 52405 preserves unique stories of Czech and Slovak history and culture through innovative experiences and engagement to reach cross-cultural audiences locally, nationally and internationally. This museum and library were created through a small group of second and third generation Czech immigrants in 1975. It started as a small project with the purpose to preserve Czech and Slovak history and culture. The group worked hard to gather Czech cultural artefacts to share them at local events and to give talks about the Czech culture. By 2011 the small collective moved to its official new location.
The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (NCSML) is an innovative leader. It is part of the Smithsonian Affiliations and has also been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum is accessible to all families and individuals. The museum and library are also ADA compliant and offer special prices to those with disabilities and their family members or chaperones. Active military families receive free admission from Armed Forces Day through Labour Day. NCSML also helps organise group tours with special discounts. The group experience packages include entries to all museum exhibits, film viewing in the Hemphill Theatre, a tour of the Sleger Immigrant Home with a museum docent, and many other enjoyable experiences. There is also a Czech Lunch Experience package with a self-guided tour. During Hubert’s Night Owl program, the NCSML stays open late for families and community members with special needs. They offer optional multi-sensory activities and fewer distractions for a less overwhelming experience.
There are several permanent exhibitions that provide a rich history of the Czech and Slovak experiences. One of which is the Sleger Immigrant home. In 1983, the group acquired a 19th-century immigrant house. This home was renovated and moved to the museum site. It is one of the most popular exhibits at the NCSML. Through this exhibit, you can step back in time to see how the Sleger Family lived from the 1890s through to 1984 after emigrating from Bohemia to the United States. There are several educational programs for students that NCSML has set up. For example, Czechs in Cedar Rapids provide information about Cedar Rapids’s development and why the Czechs moved. NCML library, named the Skala Bartizal library, has an extensive collection of materials that document Czech and Slovak history and culture. As well as several oral histories.