Vojta Náprstek Reloaded

The exhibition Vojta Náprstek Reloaded commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Vojta Náprstek, one of the most prominent figures of 19th-century Czech society. It presents Náprstek as a Renaissance man of his time—a collector, philanthropist, advocate of technological progress, supporter of women’s rights, and a natural “networker” who connected people, ideas, and continents.

Vojta Náprstek was an extraordinary personality of the 19th century, who was able to repeatedly “restart” his life and bring new ideas inspired by the world to Czech society. A fundamental experience for him was a ten-year stay in the United States, from where he brought not only valuable contacts, but above all inspiration for building a modern, open and educated society. After returning to Prague, he became a significant promoter of technical progress, a supporter of women’s education and an initiator of social changes that were significantly ahead of his time.

The exhibition in the Náprstek Museum offers more than 420 exhibits from the collections of the National Museum and loaned objects and presents not only Náprstek’s life story, but also his wide network of collaborators and friends, among whom were travellers such as Emil Holub and Josef Kořenský. The unique Dakota collection from 1856 is one of the most valuable documents of the North American Sioux culture in the European context. There are a number of historical domestic inventions that Náprstek enthusiastically presented to the public as symbols of a modern lifestyle—from early types of washing machines to the Papin pot.

Opening hours 10-18 Tuesday, Thursday- Sunday; 9-18 Wednesday, closed Monday