CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Nearly 1,000 people watched Sept. 27, 2024, as the presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia dedicated the Buresh Immigration Clock Tower at the entrance to Czech Village.
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The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the dedication was a reprisal, of sorts, of the landmark visit by three presidents — Czech President Václav Havel, Slovak President Michal Kováč, and President Bill Clinton — to dedicate the museum in 1995.
That October day was unusually cold and blustery, but Friday’s crowd enjoyed summer-like temperatures in the 70s. Museum President and CEO Cecilia Rokusek presented the presidents with leather Harley Davidson vests, among other gifts, and Pellegrini donated a Slovakian kroj, or folk costume, to the museum.
See photos of the Slovak presidential visit to Cedar Rapids
Czech President Václav Havel, President Bill Clinton and Slovak President Michal Kováč are shown with museum volunteers during their 1995 visit to Cedar Rapids. (photo courtesy Peter Sherman)
Both presidents toured the museum and met with Iowa leaders, including Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, during their trip.
“I’ve visited the United States many times,” Czech President Petr Pavel said, “but I have never witnessed such a great and pleasant concentration of tradition as here in your beautiful city.”
The Prague-style astronomical clock, or orloj, was a collaboration between the museum, clock experts SPEL Company of the Czech Republic, and Slovakian artist Andrej Haršány, who used white oak from near his home to create the clock tower’s figurines.
See inside the clock tower with the Slovakian artist
Czech President Petr Pavel looks at an edition of the Nebraska-based Czech Slavnosti newspaper while visiting the library of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Addressing the crowd that gathered to watch the dedication, Pavel noted that the astronomical clock in the capital city of Prague is one of the country’s major attractions, with millions of tourists visiting from around the world.
Citing the work that combined the mechanical expertise of Czech clock-makers and craftsmanship of the Slovak sculptor, Pavel said the result is “in good memory of the times when our two nations shared a single country, Czechoslovakia.”
Twelve nearly 4-foot-tall figurines, depicting immigrants such as a blacksmith, coal miner, farmer and others, will rotate on the hour to the music of Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.
Czech President Petr Pavel addresses the crowd during the dedication in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A sculpture of a Czech shepherd, an ancient sheep herding dog and watch dog, also known as a Bohemian shepherd, is depicted in its own space on the south side of the tower. The dog was added at the special request of lead donor, the late Ernie Buresh.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said he is proud of Slovakia’s contribution to the clocktower and was honored to be a part of the dedication.
“Presidents Havel, Kováč and Clinton inaugurated the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library back in 1995,” he said. “Now, after almost 30 years, Czech and Slovak representatives stand here at the banks of the Cedar River again.”
Slovak President Michal Kováč, at left, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Czech President Václav Havel make an appearance outside of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, on Oct. 21, 1995. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Czech Plus Band, which played for the three presidents, performed Friday morning on the patio of Lion Bridge Brewing Co. in Czech Village, as the crowd made its way to the noon dedication, and a motorcade with police escort crossed the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions to bring dignitaries to the event.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds stood in for Clinton in photos to recreate the three presidents visit in 1995.
Pellegrini noted changes that have taken place since that time, which included the relocation of the museum building to higher ground after unprecedented flooding in 2008.
“Floods swept away many homes in this town. The derecho blew away too many bricks,” he said. “But one thing remains: we stand here together as good friends and good allies.”
Read more: Museum plans reprise of presidential visit and see more photos from the dedication:
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Love your work, Cindy. You are the true chronicler of Czech Village!
Thank you for your kind words, Lori! Glad to see you there.
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