Slovak National Museum

Summary

The Slovak National Museum (Slovak: Slovenské národné múzeum) is the most important institution focusing on scientific research and cultural education in the field of museology in Slovakia. Its beginnings "are connected with the endeavour of the Slovak nation for national emancipation and self-determination".[1]

Slovak National Museum
Slovenské národné múzeum
Map
Established1961 (1961)
LocationSlovakia
Collection size3,894,000
DirectorBranislav Panis
ArchitectM. M. Harminc
Websitewww.snm.sk

It is headquartered in Bratislava, however, the Slovak National Museum governs 18 specialized museums, most of which are located outside the city.

History edit

The Slovak National Museum (SNM) was established in 1961. Its origins lie in the Matica Slovenská Museum and the Museum of the National House in Martin, which developed the Slovak Museology Society. The first permanent exposition funded from a national collection was opened in Martin in 1908. The museum was building archaeological, ethnographic, historical, numismatic, art historical, creative art and natural science collections. The Slovak National Geographic and History Museum was established in Bratislava in 1924 by the Slovak National Geographic and History Museum Society. The Agricultural Museum, a department of the Czechoslovak Agricultural Museum in Prague, was established in Bratislava the same year. In 1940, the Slovak National Geographic and History Museum and the Agricultural Museum were merged into the Slovak Museum. In 1961, the Slovak Museum and the Slovak National Museum in Martin were merged into the Slovak National Museum, based in Bratislava.[1]

On March 11, 2012, the Krásna Hôrka Castle (part of the SNM), was damaged by a fire started when two children were lighting cigarettes.[2] The fire destroyed the roof but most of the historic collections were undamaged. The castle is expected to reopen in 2018.[3]

The museum today edit

The Slovak National Museum is the most important scientific research and cultural education institution, with the largest and best collections in the museological field in Slovakia. The museum is also dedicated to scientific research tasks and publishing activities. Moreover, the SNM is "a coordination, methodological, professional advisory, statistical, educational and information centre for the whole field of museology in the Slovak Republic."[1]

Building edit

The Slovak National Museum's headquarters are located on Vajanské nábrežie (a river front street in Bratislava's Old Town), along with the Natural History Museum. The construction of the building, designed by architect M. M. Harminec, began in July 1925 and was completed in 1928. The museum opened on May 4, 1930.

Specialized museums and departments edit

Name Slovak name Location
Natural Science Museum Prírodovedné múzeum Bratislava
Archeological Museum Archeologické múzeum Bratislava
Museum of History Historické múzeum Bratislava Castle
Music Museum Hudobné múzeum Bratislava Castle
Ethnographic Museum Etnografické múzeum Martin
Andrej Kmeť Museum Múzeum Andreja Kmeťa Martin
Museum of Slovak Village Múzeum slovenskej dediny Martin
Martin Benka Museum Múzeum Martina Benku Martin
Museum of Czech Culture in Slovakia Múzeum kultúry Čechov na Slovensku Martin
Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia Múzeum kultúry Rómov na Slovensku Martin
Museum of the Slovak National Councils Múzeum Slovenských národných rád Myjava
Červený Kameň Museum Múzeum Červený Kameň Červený Kameň Castle
Betliar Museum Múzeum Betliar Betliar
Bojnice Museum Múzeum Bojnice Bojnice Castle
Spiš Museum in Levoča Spišské múzeum v Levoči Levoča
Museum of Puppet Culture and Toys Múzeum bábkarských kultúr a hračiek Modrý Kameň Castle
Museum of Jewish Culture Múzeum židovskej kultúry Bratislava, also on display in Trnava, Žilina and Prešov
Museum of Hungarian Culture in Slovakia Múzeum kultúry Maďarov na Slovensku Bratislava
Museum of Carpathian German Culture Múzeum kultúry karpatských Nemcov Bratislava
Museum of Ukrainian-Ruthenian Culture Múzeum ukrajinskej kultúry Svidník
Museum of Ruthenian Culture Múzeum rusínskej kultúry Prešov
Museum of Ľudovít Štúr Múzeum Ľudovíta Štúra Modra
Museum of Croatian Culture in Slovakia Múzeum kultúry Chorvátov na Slovensku Bratislava-Devínska Nová Ves

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Slovak national museum - Museum". City of Bratislava. n.d. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  2. ^ "Smoking Slovak children burn down castle". Reuters. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Burned Krásna Hôrka Castle should open in 2018". The Spectator, Slovakia. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2016.

External links edit

  • National Museum official website (in English)

48°08′25″N 17°06′46″E / 48.1402°N 17.1129°E / 48.1402; 17.1129