This is a big museum.
It is in a city called Prague. It has many old things to see. You can see art and rocks. It is a very special place.
Do you want to visit it?
A man named Sternberg started a museum.
It began a long time ago.
At first, it held rocks and plants. Later, it held old things from history.
The museum has a very big building. It is in a city called Prague.
The building was fixed after it was hurt. Now, it is beautiful again.
You can see many things there. It is a great place to learn.
The National Museum is a famous place in Prague. It holds many things about nature and history.
A man named Kašpar Maria Šternberg started the museum in 1818. At first, it focused on natural science. He loved studying plants and rocks. Later, the museum began to collect old objects from history.
The museum has a very grand main building. An architect named Josef Schulz built it in 1891. The building has faced many hard times. A bomb hit it during World War II. Later, gunfire damaged the walls during a conflict in 1968.
Workers spent many years fixing the museum. They worked hard from 2011 to 2018. They moved seven million items to keep them safe. Now, visitors can see a beautiful glass dome.
The museum also has a New Building nearby. A tunnel connects the two buildings now. There are nearly 14 million items to see. You can find art, music, and many old tools there.
The National Museum in Prague is a very important place for learning. It holds collections about nature, history, and culture from the Czech Republic.
The museum is much more than just one building. It actually uses dozens of different buildings to hold its many treasures. Inside these spaces, there are nearly 14 million items to see. These include things from natural history, music, art, and even old books. Because it sits at a busy spot in the city, it is a famous place for people to gather.
The museum's story began a long time ago in the late 1700s. In 1796, a group called the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts was formed. This group wanted to help people enjoy art and taste. Later, in 1800, they started an academy to teach art and history. On April 15, 1818, the National Museum was officially founded. A man named Count Kašpar Maria Šternberg was the first president. He was a scientist who studied plants and rocks.
At first, the museum focused mostly on natural science. This was because Count Šternberg was a specialist in plants and minerals. The museum started in the Sternberg Palace, but it soon became too small. It moved to the Nostitz Palace, but that place was also too small. This led to the building of a huge, permanent home. A famous architect named Josef Schulz designed this new building. He built it in a style called neo-Renaissance between 1885 and 1891.
The museum building has survived many hard times in history. In 1945, a bomb hit the building during World War II. Luckily, the items were safe in a different storage spot. In 1968, the outside walls were damaged by gunfire during a conflict. The building also faced problems from the construction of the Prague Metro. It even dealt with loud noise and dust from a new highway in 1978. To fix these problems, the museum closed for a long time. From 2011 to 2018, workers did a massive restoration project.
Today, the museum is a wonderful place to explore. A new tunnel now connects the Historical Building to the New Building. This New Building was once a place for the government and a stock exchange.
Visitors can walk under a beautiful glass dome that looks out over the city. There are many special exhibits to see, like the Halls of Minerals. You can also see the History of the 20th Century in the New Building. The museum helps everyone learn about the world around them.
The National Museum in Prague is a massive public institution. It is dedicated to the natural sciences and the history of the Czech Republic. The museum preserves the culture and people of the land. It serves as a center for learning and research. Today, it houses nearly 14 million items. These items cover natural history, history, arts, music, and librarianship. The museum uses dozens of different buildings to manage this huge collection.
The museum operates through several specialized departments. The Natural History Museum focuses on the physical world. It includes departments for mineralogy, paleontology, and botany. It also studies insects, animals, and humans through anthropology. The Historical Museum explores the human story. It contains collections of medieval jewelry, weapons, and art. There are also departments for prehistory and classical archaeology. These departments study Greek and Roman crafts. The National Museum Library and the Museum of Czech Music provide even more depth.
The museum's origins trace back to the late 18th century. In 1796, nobles formed the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts. This group wanted to promote art and taste. They even founded an academy of fine arts in 1800. The National Museum was officially founded on April 15, 1818. Count Kašpar Maria Šternberg was its first president. He was a scientist who studied plants and minerals. Because of his interests, the museum focused on natural sciences early on.
As the collection grew, the museum needed more space. It first moved from the Sternberg Palace to the Nostitz Palace. Both locations were eventually too small. This led to the construction of the main building on Wenceslas Square. The architect Josef Schulz designed it in the neo-Renaissance style. Construction took place between 1885 and 1891. This building became a symbol of Czech nationalism. Historian František Palacký helped the museum become a center for Czech identity. He even suggested publishing journals in the Czech language.
The main building has faced many historical challenges. In 1945, a bomb damaged the structure during World War II. However, the collections were safe in secure storage. In 1968, Soviet gunfire damaged the facade during a military intervention. The shots left holes in the sandstone pillars and statues. Later, the construction of the Prague Metro caused vibrations and damage. The building also suffered from dust and noise from a new highway. These issues led to a massive restoration project. The museum closed from 2011 to 2018 for these repairs.
During the restoration, workers moved seven million items to storage. This was the largest move of collections in Czech history. When the museum reopened, it introduced new features. A glass dome now offers views of the city. An underground corridor connects the Historical Building to the New Building. The New Building was formerly the Prague Stock Exchange and a parliament building. It was built in 1937 and later used by Radio Free Europe. Now, it hosts exhibitions like the History of the 20th Century.
Today, the museum is a vital part of Prague's landscape. It sits at a busy intersection and serves as a place for public gatherings. Visitors can explore many permanent exhibitions. The Halls of Minerals opened in June 2020. The Miracles of Evolution opened in 2021. You can also see the history of the Czech lands from the 8th century. The museum connects science, history, and art into one system. It remains a primary place for studying the heritage of the nation.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (6)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.