Founded in 1974 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library grew from local Czech American efforts to preserve Czech and Slovak heritage into one of the nation’s leading centers for that history and culture. It expanded from a small house museum to a major institution with exhibitions, a research library, and extensive collections, including the largest holding of kroje outside the Czech Republic and Slovakia. After the 2008 Iowa flood badly damaged its building and collections, the museum was moved to higher ground, enlarged, and reopened in 2012. In 2018 it became a Smithsonian Affiliate.