On Thursday, President Peter Pellegrini arrived in Iowa, where he met with members of the local Slovak and Czech communities at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. During the evening, he toured the library of Roman Catholic priest and national activist Štefan Furdek, who was also the first chairman of the Slovak League in America, and inaugurated a photography exhibition showcasing Slovak folk costumes. Furdek is considered the most influential figure among American Slovaks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his library holds the largest collection of Slovak books and documents in North America.
"It is a real gem, it's our common Slovak-American national treasure," said Pellegrini in his address to the library, highlighting its cultural and educational significance. According to him, it forms an important part of Slovakia's cultural diplomacy. As a gift to the institution, the president brought a man's costume from Očová (Banska Bystrica region), noting that it will become the 69th costume in its collection. The highlight of Pellegrini's visit to Cedar Rapids will be Friday's unveiling of a new astronomical clock on the renovated clock tower, designed in the style of the historic clock at Prague's Old Town Hall. He will unveil the clock together with Czech President Petr Pavel.
Source: TASR
