Vojta Náprstek Reloaded

The exhibition Vojta Náprstek Reloaded commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Vojta Náprstek (1826–1894), one of the most prominent figures of 19th-century Czech culture. It presents him as a Renaissance man of his era — a collector, philanthropist, advocate of technological progress, defender of women's rights, and a natural "networker" who connected people, ideas, and continents. The exhibition shows Náprstek as a man who repeatedly "rebooted" his life: after the 1848 revolution, he emigrated to the USA, where he worked as a bookseller and participated in an expedition to the Dakotas. Upon his return, he transformed the house U Halánků into a centre of Czech intellectual life and founded the Czech Industrial Museum, today's Náprstek Museum. One of the exhibition's highlights is a unique Dakota collection from 1856, among the most valuable records of North American Sioux culture in a European context. Visitors will see over 420 exhibits, historical household inventions from washing machines to Papin's digester, and interactive elements. The exhibition also documents the founding of the American Club of Ladies — a pioneering platform for women's education. At the end, visitors encounter an installation dedicated to Vojta and Josefa Náprstek, whose urns are part of the display. The accompanying programme includes guided tours, children's activities, and a lecture series "A Year with Náprstek". The exhibition is open until 31 December 2027.