In the past year, many of us have had our travel plans derailed, especially if we planned to go overseas. However, some places in our own country and state can provide a taste of other foreign lands and cultures and satisfy anyone’s wanderlust. If you live in or are visiting Iowa, a visit to Czech Village, a neighborhood located on the south side of Cedar Rapids, will transport you to Central Europe.
Czech Village encompasses the 0-200 city blocks of 16th Ave West. Czech Village and another diverse neighborhood, New Bohemia, are part of an area known as The District.
Barb Thompson - Czech Village Marketing
The history of Czech Village started in the late 1800s when meatpacking plant T.M. Sinclair moved to the area close to where the Czech Hall resided. More Czechoslovakians, or “Bohemian,” immigrants moved to the area seeking employment at the plant. Eventually, word got out to the community overseas and more Central Europeans immigrated to the area, expanding the neighborhood.
If you are interested in learning more about the culture and history of the residents that built this area, visit the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Aside from the main building of the museum, take a tour of the smaller structure on the property, the 1800s Sleger Immigrant Home. Here you can get a taste of what life was like for five generations of the Sleger family, who had emigrated from Bohemia to Cedar Rapids.
Built in 1898 and a pharmacy from 1901 until 1973, the Czech Cottage is now a gift shop. Here, you will find many beautiful imported and handmade Bohemian gifts.
Czech Village Association/Facebook
Sykora Bakery was first established in 1912 as C.K. Kosek Bakery and is a long-standing institution in the area, baking Czech specialties like kolace, rohlik, houska, and babovka. In the past few years, a full Czech, Moravian, and Slovak restaurant menu have been added.
Sykora Bakery/Facebook
Sykora makes incredible pastries, cakes, rolls, and bread but is famous for its Bohemian rye, which you must get when you visit this historic bakery.
Sykora Bakery/Facebook
If you are interested in learning more about the culture and history of the residents that built this area, visit the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Aside from the main building of the museum, take a tour of the smaller structure on the property, the 1800s Sleger Immigrant Home. Here you can get a taste of what life was like for five generations of the Sleger family, who had emigrated from Bohemia to Cedar Rapids.
If you are interested in learning more about the culture and history of the residents that built this area, visit the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Aside from the main building of the museum, take a tour of the smaller structure on the property, the 1800s Sleger Immigrant Home. Here you can get a taste of what life was like for five generations of the Sleger family, who had emigrated from Bohemia to Cedar Rapids.
This neighborhood has so much to offer in the way of the history and life of Cedar Rapid’s Bohemian population. Come and Czech out the shopping and cultural offerings of Czech Village!
Barb Thompson - Czech Village Marketing
If you are interested in learning more about the culture and history of the residents that built this area, visit the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Aside from the main building of the museum, take a tour of the smaller structure on the property, the 1800s Sleger Immigrant Home. Here you can get a taste of what life was like for five generations of the Sleger family, who had emigrated from Bohemia to Cedar Rapids.
Czech Village Association/Facebook
Sykora Bakery/Facebook
Information and weekend itineraries may be found on The District’s website here.
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Address: 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA
