National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library - Czech Points of Interest in Cedar Rapids


Czech Cottage


Sykora Bakery

Sykora Bakery (interior)

Polehna's Market

Polehna's Market (interior)

Czech Village
16th Avenue SW.

Located along the Cedar River at the Bridge of Lions, this business district, composed of ethnic, gift and specialty shops, bakery and restaurants, preserves the city's Czech history through historical buildings, information on Old World backgrounds and personal histories. It is the site of several events throughout the year that reflect the historical Czech beginnings. In 1906 Louis Pochabradsky opened a grocery store on the west side of the 16th Avenue bridge. Other businesses followed, including a harness shop in 1908 and a hardware store and a cigar shop soon thereafter. Restaurants, bakeries, butcher shops, grocery stores and saloons followed and a business area catering to the Czech residents was born. The United State Bank opened in 1922 at the still-existing building on the SE corner of 16th Avenue and C Street SW. It moved to 16th Avenue and D Street SW in 1958 and is now known as the Mercantile Bank.

Zindrick's Czech Restaurant


Saddle and Leather Shop


Kosek Bandstand

The History of Czechs in Cedar Rapids, Volume 2, 1942 - 1982, assembled and edited by the Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1982. Lilly Printing Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.