Visitors look at the Guts & Glory exhibit during the opening reception on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A multimedia exhibit that opened Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library offers a number of unique twists.

Jonathan Carrick, a student at Metro High School STEAM Academy, was among students who worked on the exhibit. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The background story, itself, is a little-known narrative of 60,000 Czech and Slovak soldiers who seized the Trans-Siberian railroad during World War I and fought their way across Siberia, even before the birth of their own nation of Czechoslovakia.

Building the “Guts & Glory” exhibit provided another unusual collaboration, between the museum staff and consultants, with high school students from Iowa BIG and Metro High School STEAM Academy.

Iowa BIG students designed the virtual reality scenario that museum-goers can use as part of the tour, while Metro students designed, built and installed the replica train cars that also are part of the exhibit.

Artist Rachel Marie-Crane Williams of the University of Iowa faculty added another twist, with more than two dozen large-scale interpretive panels that tell the story in graphic novel form.

Czech Ambassador Hynek Kmoníček is shown with members of the Czech Heritage Foundation’s Czech Royal Court during the opening reception. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

During an opening reception April 6, Kevin McNamara, author of “Dreams of a Great Small Nation” told the background about the soldiers in Siberia, noting that Czech and Slovak immigrants in Iowa played a role in helping to raise money for their efforts during the war.

The exhibit marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Czechoslovakia in 1918.

Related: Sokol exhibit at National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

Hynek Kmoníček, the Czech Ambassador to the United States, and Jozef Polakovič, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy of the Slovak Republic, were among the dignitaries at the opening reception, which included a ribbon-cutting for the exhibit.

Guts & Glory is open through Dec. 31, 2018 at the museum, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids.

Learn about other Czech connections in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and see more photos from Friday’s opening reception, below:

Gail Naughton, president and CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, speaks during the opening reception for “Guts & Glory.” (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Artist Rachel Marie-Crane Williams of the University of Iowa faculty drew more than two dozen large-scale interpretive panels that tell the story in graphic novel form.

The Grand Hall at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library was the site of the opening reception for “Guts & Glory,” an exhibit that tells the story of Czech and Slovak soldiers during World War 1. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Museum curator, Stefanie Kohn, is introduced during the opening reception for the “Guts and Glory” exhibit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

“Guts and Glory” tells the story of Czech and Slovak soldiers who seized the Trans-Siberian railroad during World War I and fought their way across Siberia. (photo/NCSML)

Forrest Saunders of KCRG-TV9 interviews student Isaac Miller of Iowa BIG during the opening reception. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

A virtual reality experience is part of the “Guts & Glory” exhibit at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

A visitor uses the virtual reality system at the museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Hynek Kmoníček, Czech Ambassador to the United States, left, and Jozef Polakovič, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy of the Slovak Republic, applaud the ribbon cutting with museum President and CEO, Gail Naughton. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Visitors tour the “Guts and Glory” exhibit at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library during the opening reception on April 6, 2018. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Author Kevin McNamara signs a copy of his book, “Dreams of a Great Small Nation,” for Joyce Langlas during the opening reception for the “Guts and Glory” exhibit.
(photo/Cindy Hadish)

Jozef Polakovič, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy of the Slovak Republic, talks to Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Saddah Hadish during the opening reception. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Metro High School STEAM Academy students designed and built the replica train cars that are a part of the “Guts and Glory” exhibit at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. (photo/Cindy Hadish)