Presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia will attend the dedication of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s renovated clock tower, part of its 50th anniversary celebration, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In a monumental event, presidents of both the Czech Republic and Slovakia will attend the dedication of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s renovated clock tower this Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

The event is a reprisal, of sorts, of the landmark visit by three presidents to dedicate the museum in 1995. The museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Read more: Museum plans reprise of presidential visit

The clock tower, next to the Cedar River on 16th Avenue SW in Czech Village, has been transformed into a Prague-style astronomical clock, or orloj, with a dozen figurines representing immigrants that will rotate on the hour to the music of Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.

A blacksmith is among the immigrants depicted in the renovated clock tower in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Visitors hoping to watch the dedication can attend for free, but need to follow security protocols.

Here is what you need to know:

— The 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions will be open to traffic, with an exception during the motorcade.

— Inspiration Place from 16th Avenue SW to 15th Avenue SW and 15th Avenue from Inspiration Place SW to the parking lot entrance to the museum will be closed from 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

— At the discretion of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, 16th Avenue from Second Street SE to C Street SW may close at any time during the event.

— Parking for the public will be available on the grass field behind 17th Avenue SW.

— Golf carts with drivers will be available to shuttle guests with accessibility needs.

— The only entrance to the event will be at 16th Avenue SW at Inspiration Place, near the clock tower.

— Enter at the security checkpoint beginning at 9:30 a.m. Personal items should be in clear plastic bags for ease of checking.

— Metal detectors will be used, and knives, guns and similar items are not allowed.

— Chairs are not allowed to be carried onto the grounds. Chairs and wheelchairs will be provided for those with accessibility needs.

— The museum will be cordoned off during the event and will close to the public at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. It will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27, until reopening from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. that day.

— A museum store pop-up shop will open for guests at 9:30 a.m. Friday, to purchase special 50th anniversary and clock tower merchandise, and water will be available to purchase.

— At 10 a.m., Die Tiefen Keller Kinder (DTKK / Amana Colony Band) will begin playing on the museum terrace.

— Czech President Petr Pavel and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini will be part of a motorcade going through New Bohemia and Czech Village at 10:10 a.m., ending at the museum.

— At 11:45 a.m., the presidents, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, will pose for a photo opportunity on the museum’s terrace, reprising the 1995 photo of Czech President Václav Havel, Slovak President Michal Kováč, and President Bill Clinton.

— The Buresh Immigration Clocktower unveiling begins at noon. The presidents will speak during the dedication and help ring in the clock tower, joined by Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and Gov. Reynolds.

— All Czech Village businesses plan to be open, with specials for the occasion and kolaches for sale at some of the stores.

See inside the clock tower with the Slovakian artist

Artist Andrej Haršány is shown Sept. 17, 2024, inside the clock tower in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)