5/5 Madhu K. 2 years ago on Google
The
National
Museum
is
the
largest
museum
in
the
Czech
Republic.
As
the
central
state
museum
with
collecting,
scientific,
educational
and
methodological
functions
it
seeks
to
enhance
the
sense
of
national
identity
and
awareness
of
being
part
of
the
whole
framework
of
European
and
world
community
and
culture.
The
Mission
of
the
National
Museum
The
National
Museum
consists
of
five
specialised
institutes
-
the
Museum
of
Natural
Sciences,
the
Historical
Museum,
the
Library
of
the
National
Museum,
the
Náprstek
Museum
of
Asian,
African
and
American
Cultures
(part
of
the
National
Museum
since
1932),
the
Czech
Museum
of
Music
(part
of
the
National
Museum
since
1984)
and
two
technical
and
administrative
departments
–
the
Department
of
Economic
Management
and
the
Department
of
Central
Exhibiting
and
Collecting
Work.
The
National
Museum
accumulates
collections
of
material
documents
of
natural
history,
prehistory
and
history
of
Czech
and
foreign
provenance,
especially
in
the
field
of
mineralogy,
geology,
petrology,
paleontology,
hydrobiology,
micology,
botanics,
entomology,
zoology,
antropology,
prehistory
and
protohistory,
medieval
archeology,
classical
archeology,
Czech
history,
ethnography,
numismatics
(including
non-European),
history
of
theatre,
history
of
physical
education
and
sport,
prehistory
and
ancient
history
of
the
Near
East
and
Africa,
non-European
ethnography,
Asian
culture,
musicology
and
bibliology.
Collections
are
created
in
line
with
scientific
research
and
according
to
the
museum’s
own
conception
of
collecting
work.
The
museum
is
in
charge
of
the
historical
book
fund,
castle
libraries,
a
specialised
public
library
and
a
specialised
archive.
Collection
items
as
well
as
findings
gained
in
the
process
of
the
compilation
of
their
documentation
and
scholarly
assessment
are
presented
especially
in
permanent
and
temporary
exhibitions,
by
way
of
publication
work
and
lecturing
activities
in
the
Czech
Republic
and
abroad.
The
museum
organises
cultural
and
educational
programmes
related
to
the
subject
matter
of
its
activities.
It
publishes
and
distributes
periodical
and
non-periodical
publications,
audio
and
video
recordings.
It
is
engaged
in
pedagogical
work
in
the
sphere
of
its
activities.
It
issues
certificates
for
the
export
of
objects
of
cultural
value
according
to
the
Import
and
Export
of
Objects
of
Cultural
Value
Act,
No
71/1994.
It
gives
expert
reports
and
opinions
and
does
literature
searches.
The
Foundation
and
Development
of
the
Institution
Like
elsewhere
in
Europe,
the
initial
stage
of
the
National
Museum
was
linked
with
donations
of
large
private
collections,
mostly
from
the
field
of
natural
history,belonging
to
the
aristocracy
resident
in
the
Czech
Lands.
A
group
of
Enlightenment
aristocrats,
especially
Count
Kaspar
Maria
Sternberg
(1761
–
1838),
a
world-famous
paleontologist,
headed
the
preparatory
work
leading
to
the
foundation
of
the
museum.
On
the
15th
April
1818
the
group
signed
a
declaration
confirming
the
establishment
of
the
museum
and
managed
to
get
an
endorsement
from
the
Viennese
government
and
the
ruler.
Thus,
the
Society
of
the
Patriotic
Museum
in
Bohemia
came
into
being
as
the
owner
and
administrator
of
the
collections
and
manager
of
the
entire
museum
work.
Count
Sternberg
was
named
the
first
chairman
of
the
Society,
which
remained
the
owner
of
the
museum
until
1934
when
the
collections
became
property
of
the
administration
of
the
Czech
Lands.
In
1949
they
were
nationalised.
