Step inside Bohemian National Hall during Open House New York and discover one of Manhattan’s most remarkable landmarks of Czech and Slovak history. Explore the building from the rooftop to its historic halls, library, gallery, cinema, and the Dvořák Room, while learning more about the architecture, stories, and institutions that have kept this cultural landmark alive for more than a century.
Friday, October 16, 12:00–6:00 PM
Saturday, October 17, 12:00–6:00 PM
Built in 1896 and designed by architect William C. Frohne in the Renaissance Revival style, Bohemian National Hall is a rare surviving example of the social halls established by New York City’s immigrant communities in the nineteenth century.
During this year’s Open House New York weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the building from the rooftop down. The visit begins on the roof, with an introduction to the history and present-day life of Bohemian National Hall, accompanied by unusual views of the surrounding Upper East Side architecture. One floor below, visitors can step inside the impressive Grand Ballroom, one of the building’s signature spaces.
The route continues through the floor traditionally associated with Czech and Slovak community organizations, including the Václav Havel Library, before moving on to the Czech Center New York Gallery and the building’s cinema.
The Dvořák Room will also be open to visitors. Dedicated to composer Antonín Dvořák and his years in New York, the room highlights one of the most significant connections between Czech and American musical history and is maintained by the Dvořák American Heritage Association.
For more than a century, Bohemian National Hall has been at the heart of Czech and Slovak life in New York. From its earliest days, it served as a gathering place for the immigrant community, offering Czech language and history classes, cultural programs, celebrations, traditional food, and spaces for social and civic life. Today, the Hall remains an important reminder of the vibrant community that once flourished in Yorkville and of New York City’s broader immigrant history.
In 2001, ownership of Bohemian National Hall was transferred from the Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association (BBLA) to the Czech Republic. Following an extensive renovation, the building continues its original cultural mission and is today home to the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, Czech Center New York, and BBLA, alongside other Czech organizations and initiatives.
Open House New York offers a special opportunity to experience spaces that visitors may not normally see, discover the building’s architecture and history, and meet the institutions that continue to shape its cultural life today.
