In 1848, after the overthrow of the revolution in Vienna and Prague, VOJTA NÁPRSTEK (1826 - 1894) sought refuge from police persecution for ten years in the United States of America, where he gained experience and understanding which he tried after his return home to repay with interest to the benefit of Czech society. One of his most important activities was the construction of the private Czech Industrial Museum, which was supposed to help underdeveloped Czech manufacturing. Before long, the museum and library became the centre of the Czech intelligentsia, and, thanks to Náprstek’s contacts amongst Czechs living outside their own country, was celebrated even abroad. Apart from exhibits of things technical, the museum also accumulated ethnographic and artistic artefacts, which Náprstek’s friends and travellers brought from all around the world. After his death the museum became ethnographic, and after 1946 its bearing was orientated purely towards non-European culture.
The museum´s collections are extremely rich (about 95,000 three dimensional specimens, photographs, graphics, records, etc.) and only a very small part is exhibited in the PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS (American and Australian culture in the Prague exhibition hall, and ASIAN CULTURE in Libìchov chateau in Central Bohemia). In the Prague building U halánkù there is also a PUBLIC LIBRARY at the disposition of visitors, which offers not only books and periodicals, but other collections, many of which were established by Vojta Náprstek. It is a collection of historical photographs, stereoscopic pictures, contemporary graphic art, books of press-cuttings and also, at the present time, gramophone records. Also available is the extensive Náprstek family archive, plus those of travellers and Czechs living abroad. The museum is trying gradually to make public and accessible all its collections. Proof of this is the Èapek record collection.
Opening Hours
Daily (except Mon) 09:00 - 17:30
Detailed info
| Guided tours available?: |
No info at present
| | Entrance fee - adults: |
60 CZK
(approx:
US$3.17, GB£2.03, 2.43 EUR)*
|
| Entrance fee - children/concessions: |
30 CZK
(approx:
US$1.58, GB£1.02, 1.22 EUR)*
|
| Entrance fee - family (up to 2 adults & 2 children: |
No info at present |
| |
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