Bohemian National Hall, A Sense of Place
This July we are proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the designation of Bohemian National Hall – founded as a social hall for Czech and Slovak immigrants in 1896 – as a New York City Landmark building.
The erection of Bohemian National Hall on the Upper East Side was a great achievement of our members, a new beginning for Czech and Slovak immigrants who longed for a sense of place at the end of the 19th century. The time came, however, when our shared values were put to the test and the future of Bohemian National Hall was hanging in the balance. But we passed the test.
And on July 19, 1994, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Bohemian National Hall as a New York City Landmark.
“On the basis of a careful consideration of the history, the architecture, and the other features of this building, the Landmarks Preservation Commission finds that Bohemian National Hall has a special character, special historic and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York City… Bohemian National Hall (Narodni Budova) is a rare survivor of the social halls built in the nineteenth century for New York City’s immigrant ethnic communities.”
The strong vision and expertise of noted Czech-American preservation architect Jan Hird Pokorny (1914-2008) played a key role in gaining this recognition.
Today a vibrant center of Czech culture – presenting music, art, film, theater, and more – Bohemian National Hall welcomes thousands of visitors a year and has earned recognition as a “best kept secret in New York.”
We are grateful to our leaders – past and present – who recognized the value of preserving our historic 1896 Renaissance-Revival building, actively sought landmark designation, and found a unique way to assure the building’s future in collaboration with the Czech Republic, which now owns the building. The premises are today shared by the Czech Center New York and Czech Consulate General along with the founding institution, BBLA, and its constituent organizations.
This is a very special anniversary that we wish to share with you. We invite you to visit our historic landmark and enjoy the many event offerings throughout the year.
