National Czech & Slovak

Faces of Freedom

Cedar Rapids, IA

Sitting in a living room during World War Two. Lying on a bunk in a steamship on your way to America or standing in Wenceslaus Square amidst shaking keys at the height of the Velvet Revolution. What did it sound like? What did it feel like? Questions like these are being answered throughout the new 7,261-square-foot museum exhibition project. Rare artifacts; cutting-edge interactive displays; and exhibits on puppets, music, art, and much more celebrate the immigrant spirit in everyone. 

The space encourages visitors to reflect on their own experiences with freedom through the lens of the story of the Czech and Slovak people—from old‐world tribes to the formation of the modern‐day Czech and Slovak Republics, to the immigration stories of those who left their native land for opportunities in America.