NZM Prague

National Museum of Agriculture Prague

The beginnings of the National Museum of Agriculture reach back to the year1891. As a separate institution, the Museum of Agriculture was founded in 1918. The building in Prague-Letná, which is a significant monument of modern Czech architecture – functionalism, was erected in the years 1937–39, along with the neighbouring object of the National Museum of Technology, according to the design by architect Milan Babuška. However, for the following more than fifty years, it was used for purposes wholly different from the original ones.

At present, the building of the National Museum of Agriculture Prague is subject to a demanding reconstruction that will return to it the original style and make it possible to present new and modern exhibitions.

Exhibitions

Tractor on the Move

The exhibition on the area of 520m² in the new hall of the basement in the main building of the NMA in Prague presents 20 most important objects (tractors, stationary engines of threshers, motor threshers) from the farming machinery collection of the NMA. The whole exhibition is conceived as a story that will guide the visitors through the history of the mechanization of the demanding work of farmers.   

The permanent exhibition has an interactive character, and its parts are electronic games, play consoles, education and instruction programmes for schools, a little test for acquiring a „driver’s licence“ for children, and also a „stable for tractors“ (four small pedal tractors – a gift from the firm N&N Košátky) for borrowing against an advance payment of CZK 500 per hour for the little children visitors. As a „track“, they may use the pavements in the neighbourhood of the Little Museum Farm in the courtyard of the Museum. One of the exhibits on display, a tractor ZETOR 15, may be tested, „felt“ and photographed by adult visitors as well as by children under adult supervision.

Museum Farm

The seasonal open-air exhibition situated in the NMA courtyard has two sections – animal section and vegetable section.

The animal section – exhibits of farm animal breed (rabbits, poultry, sheep).

The vegetable section – a little field with various plants.

The Museum offers possible adoption of animals from the Museum’s farm.

Events

The National Museum of Agriculture Prague organizes short-time exhibitions, thematic events (The Letná Porker, The Letná Goose, and Tasting of St. Martin’s Wine); the Museum takes part in the Prague Museum Night every year.

The Museum organizes lectures for the public and prepares lector programmes for schools.

Services

Services for researchers are offered in the NMA archives and photo archives.

The NMA Prague rents spaces for firms, for social events, and for filming (e.g., the films „Protektor” (The Protector), „Zemský ráj to napohled“ (An Earthy Paradise for the Eyes … ).