<Museum in Liberec is looking for witnesses, wants to publish a book</Museum>

Liberec - The North Bohemian Museum in Liberec is looking for witnesses who can help fill in the gaps in its 147-year history. It wants to use the information for a publication that will map the entire history of the museum and is set to be released this autumn. "Such a book has only been published once, in 1973, and it was for the 100th anniversary of the museum," said Anna Baldová on behalf of the museum today.

The North Bohemian Museum was founded in 1873 as an applied arts museum and is the oldest museum of its kind in the Czech lands. Until 1898, it moved several times, and in 1898 the construction of the building, where it still resides today, was completed. "We want to map the entire history of the museum, which is why we are looking for information from people who could help fill the gaps in our knowledge," Baldová stated.

According to her, the gaps mainly relate to the period of World War II, the post-war years, and the 1950s. It is not widely known today that there was a pub in the museum's basement during the second half of the 20th century, which probably only opened during the Liberec Exhibition Markets. "I am also finding out how it operated, whether it only opened during the markets. And I don't even know if there was just drinking or also food," Baldová mentioned. It is also not very well known that in the basement of the museum next to the main staircase, there was still a caretaker's apartment in the 1960s. According to Baldová, museum staff would also welcome information from other periods and people's experiences from their visits to the museum, impressions from exhibitions, lectures, and other events. Texts and photographs can be sent to the email [email protected] or people can stop by the museum in person.

The North Bohemian Museum has closed its exhibitions since last January due to modernization costing 143 million crowns. The building, in a romantic-historic style that architecturally connects elements of sacred and palace architecture, is set to reopen to the public this September. The architecture of the building will remain the same after reconstruction, but the exhibitions will change radically and the building will be more accessible. The museum has a rich library and three collection departments - natural sciences, history, and art history. The depositories hold over 700,000 collection items. The museum has four permanent exhibitions dedicated to applied arts, the nature of Liberec, mechanical musical instruments, and the artistic poster. The fifth exhibition is a park that surrounds the historic building.