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Grand Opening of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

(This article expired 16.07.2015.)

On Saturday July 14, thousands of people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, celebrated the re-opening of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. The old museum building was badly damaged during the massive floods in 2008.

While all may have seemed lost when the building was innundated by 8 feet of water, thanks to a great effort of many dedicated workers and volunteers the museum and library are alive and open to the public again.

More than $25 million was raised during the capital campaign of 2010 for flood recovery of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. I-JOBS provided $10 million and a Vision Iowa grant of $2.9 million was also received by the Museum and Library.

Last summer, the 17,000-square-foot building was moved from the banks of the Cedar River to higher ground in Czech Village on 16th Avenue SW. An addition was built, bringing the museum to 50,000 square feet. The new building features a 55-seat auditorium; three galleries including a 7200 sq. ft. permanent exhibition hall; a classroom; a 5500 sq. ft. library; a reception hall for seating up to 400; a river view terrace; catering kitchen and an expanded store.

Ambassador Petr Gandalovic joined senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ron Corbett, Mayor of Cedar Rapids, at the opening. They all expressed their appreciation for the hard work that led to the relocation and the re-opening of the museum and the library.

To learn more about the museum and the library please visit their website.

Galleries


Cedar Rapids