Discover a landmark of Czech and Slovak history on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Join a guided tour of Bohemian National Hall, from its rooftop and historic ballroom to its library, Dvořák Room, cinema, and gallery. Access to the building is by guided tour only, except for the gallery exhibition, which visitors may explore independently.
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 12:00–6:00 PM
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 12:00–6:00 PM
Visitors must remain with their tour group while exploring the building. Independent access is limited to the Czech Center Gallery, where visitors are welcome to spend time viewing Visit Czechoslovakia! The Stories of Czech and Slovak Travel Posters. Other areas are accessible only with a guide.
The tour begins on the rooftop with an introduction to the Hall’s history and views of the surrounding neighborhood. It continues through the Grand Ballroom and community spaces, including the Václav Havel Library and the Dvořák Room, dedicated to the composer’s American years and maintained by the Dvořák American Heritage Association. The route also includes the cinema and gallery.
Built in 1896 to a Renaissance Revival design by William C. Frohne, Bohemian National Hall has served generations of Czech and Slovak New Yorkers. Following its transfer from the Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association (BBLA) to the Czech Republic in 2001 and an extensive renovation, it continues its cultural mission as home to the Czech Consulate General, Czech Center New York, and BBLA.
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.
