Museum of the Slovak National Uprising

at Banská Bystrica is a specialised national Museum which documents the development of Slovak society between 1938-1945, with a focus on the anti-fascist resistance and the Slovak National Uprising. It is a national museum and its professional, methodical, co-ordinating and consultative functions have an international scope. The museum was founded in 1955, taking over the responsibilities of the former Institute of the Slovak National Uprising that had existed in Banská Bystrica since 1947.

Built in 1969, the museum building is a memorial to the Slovak National Uprising and one of the dominant features of the county town of Banská Bystrica. Designed by Professor Dusan Kuzma, it takes the form of two asymmetric reinforced concrete monuments joined by a bridge, symbolising an idea of the Slovak National Uprising as an important milestone in the life of Slovak society during the Second World War. The space between the two monuments is used as a hall in which the important battles of the uprising and places of Nazi repression are remembered. It contains the symbolic grave of an Unknown Soldier, an everlasting flame, and memorial tablets to victims of the Holocaust from Slovakia and to foreign fighters of the Slovak National Uprising. The whole memorial has been declared a National Cultural Monument.

The museum’s exhibitions document the history of Slovak society between 1938 and 1945, with an emphasis on the anti-Nazi resistance and the Slovak National Uprising. The Slovak National Uprising is presented as an important part of the European anti-Nazi resistance during World War II. The museum holds, protects and undertakes research on 66,956 different three-dimensional artefacts and 136,157 archival materials. It also incorporates a special archive documenting the period between 1938 and 1945 and the activities of the museum itself, and a library with more than 20,000 books and accompanying documentation. The museum has an informative database of its activities and provides researchers, institutions and the public with requested information.

The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising is surrounded by a large park which contains an open-air exhibition of heavy armaments. Close to the entrance to the park there is a most interesting exhibit – the aircraft LI-2, which carried persons and material to Three Oaks Airbase in time for the Slovak National Uprising. The interior of the aircraft is open to the public.

The museum also incorporates a well-equipped cinema in which many social events are held.