If Ben Stiller wants to make Night at the Museum 3, I want to nominate the National Museum in Prague as the location. In addition to the standard museum fare, this joint has no shortage of insects, dinosaurs and even sharks to make the audience shriek and squirm. I mean, it could be like Jaws, Jurassic Park and Mothra all rolled into one!
My wannabe-Spielberg delusions aside, the National Museum dominates old town's main boulevard and wows by-passers with its grand fountain and fabulous façade. Though the museum officially started in nobles' palaces, the present neo-renaissance structure was designed and built in the late 19th century by noted Czech architect Josef Schultz. Inside, the museum lacks the 
scope and grandeur of similar establishments in places like Paris and New York, but you certainly see the pride that Czech citizens place in this cultural center. Departments include the Gallery of the Pantheon, Paleontology, Anthropology, Zoology, Pre-History, Mineralogy and the Exposition of Orders, Medals and Decorations.
Kids (and kid-like adults such as myself) will enjoy the extensive exhibits of fossils, insects and recreations of dinosaurs and sharks. Most adults will love the zoological 
and botanical exhibits and the sparkling beauty of its mineral collection (especially if you're one of the Real Housewives ladies). Archeology is also on display, and while they have many fine items, they tend to be more common day items like a glass bottle from the port of Puteolo, classic Bohemian glassware, medieval jewelry and vast collection of ancient coins and medals. It is worth noting, however, that the museum also includes departments of music and theater, an admirable recognition that such arts should also be treasured like tangible artifacts.
Relics and rubies aside, the museum's origins are also inspirational. Following the French Revolution, there was a movement in parts of Europe to make art and culture available to all. This manifested itself in Prague with the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts. Founded by Count Casper Sternberk-Manderschied and other nobles in the late 18th century, the goal was to end 
nobility's monopoly on cultural wealth and knowledge and make it available to all citizens. The Society eventually led to the National Museum, which was officially founded by Kašpar Maria Šternberg in 1818. In the two centuries since, the museum has survived a Nazi bomb and Soviet machine gun fire and today houses nearly 14 million artifacts and items of cultural significance.
Needless to say, these early founders truly put the "noble" in nobility. Their legacy lives on with the National Museum, a center for cultural enrichment and Czech national pride.
0 comments