Museum of Communism
Museum in Prague
Find out more about the several-year era of communism that ruled Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989. The Prague Museum of Communism will introduce you to everyday life from different perspectives. The Museum of Communism presents its visitors with the lives of ordinary people but also, for example, politicians, athletes and representatives of the army or police. It exhibits current artistic elements typical for this period in the style of Socialist Realism or print and its censorship. You will see behind the scenes of StB or labour camps.
Museum of Communism and what to expect
As you may have already learned from the first paragraph, the museum deals broadly with different types of life during communism in Czechoslovakia. You will also become familiar with the economic situation, institutions influenced by communist power and the totalitarian regime in general.
In the museum are displayed original exhibits. The creators’ biggest effort was to create a space where the visitors could empathize with this period as much as possible. That’s why you get the opportunity to preview the school classroom, children’s room or even the interrogation room. The museum premises are decorated with original posters and other installations that you might have encountered during the communist era.
The museum has two floors, and its parts are divided into individual themes.
There is also a shop in the museum, where various posters, T-shirts, magnets and other souvenirs are available.
In addition to viewing the exhibits, the museum has a cinema where every 20m you can watch a film. The film is called A Time of Shame, Silence and Hope. The theme of the film is clear. It will bring the viewers closer to Czechoslovakia between 1969 and 1989.
A brief Communist era in Czechoslovakia
Communism in Czechoslovakia began in February 1948 and was ended by the well-known and still celebrated Velvet Revolution, which took place on 17 November 1989. The Communist Party ruled there, and it was not allowed to vote for any other party than this one. Therefore, every citizen was obligated to vote for the Communist Party if he did not want to cause himself inconvenience, which was taken care of, for example, by the police. Thus, the elections had only a formal character.
The characteristic of communist rule was a centrally planned economy. Simply put, the government decided what would be produced and in what quantity. Not the market. Such a regime led to the backwardness of the state and the absence of many components on the market. It was not allowed to disagree with the regime. The only solution for the resisters was emigration (however, this was a criminal act). Public resistance was not tolerated and followed by the surveillance of people by the secret police, unpleasant interrogations, labour camps or even judicial murders. In worse cases, people were sent to labour or even concentration camps.
Perhaps you already know a little about the communist era from the stories of your parents, grandparents or even teachers at school. Although, we are convinced the museum represents this period in maximum depth. That is why we recommend visiting the Museum of Communism in Prague. You can get to know as much as possible about what happened in Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1989.
The museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: Museum of Communism Prague is located at V Celnici 1031/4, 110 00 Prague 1
If you are interested in visiting a museum in the opposite direction and having fun a little, we have two options for you – Illusion Museum Prague or Optical Tricks Museum Prague.
(Photo source: Instagram: Museum of Communism)
