National Technical Museum, Prague, Czech Republic

1. Time measurement

In this section, to the right of the entrance, we find elementary time-measuring devices such as solar clocks, water clocks, fire clocks, hourglasses and mechanical clocks, as well as electrical and electronic devices and, finally, clocks based on quantum principles. The Czech Republic is a country with a tradition in this field thanks to Josef Božek and Josef Kossek. I liked table clocks, the mysterious mantelpiece clock, astronomical clocks, the pocket chronometer, the radio clock, electronic clocks, the last two of which I am also a contemporary.

2. Chemistry

The Chemistry section actually gives the presence of chemistry all around us. The old chemistry laboratory or the modern chemistry laboratory could not be missing. Here, too, we meet outstanding Czech figures who have worked in the field of chemistry, such as Jaroslav Heyrovský, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for polarography in 1959, or Otto Wichterle, the inventor of soft contact lenses. There's a dedicated 'History of Contact Lenses' area, where we also see a contact lens making machine from 1961. We remember polymers, medicines, gases and how they are transported, celluloid, polyamide, polyurethane products, colors and paints.

3. Photo

The photo exhibition or photo cinema presents the evolution of photography over time. We learn about the prehistory of photography, calotype, album album paper, dry gelatin plates, bichromate colloid processes, photographic film, digital photography, three-color photography, multi-layered colored materials,reflective and lenticular stereoscope, digital color photography, chronophotography and the spectacular tahiscope.

In the center of the hall is a photographic studio used for taking portraits in daylight. The most valuable exhibit is the 1839 daguerreotype.

4. Cars and trains

The museum's largest hall is the transportation hall. It's quite fascinating. It is open in memory of pioneers by land, water and air. The hall has three levels plus the ground floor. The Czech Republic and the former Czechoslovakia excel and excelled in transportation.

On the ground floor we find exhibits representing land transportation on 4 or more wheels: the first cars that ran on combustion and steam engines, locomotives. Among the iconic vehicles are the first automobile made in the Czech lands, the NW President from 1898, the Tatra 80 from 1935 used by President T. G. Masaryk. The Skoda Superb is not missing either.

5. Motorcycles

The first level of the transport hall built on the perimeter of the hall overlooking the center of the hall presents the history of motorcycles from the end of the 19th century to the present. It starts with the Jawa 500 from 1954 and continues with many models, including CZ 420, Praga ED, Hildebrand & Wolfmuüller, Walter, CAS and others.

6. Airplanes

The second floor is spectacular and is all about airplanes. We practically climbed up to the level where the flight vehicles hang in the central hall. Highlights are: the hot air balloon, Igo Etrich's glider, the 1911 Kašpar JK airplane that Jan Kašpar used for the first long-distance flight in the Czech lands and historic airplanes such as the Anatra DS, Traktor, but also the Zlín Z XIII recreational airplanes, the 1945 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXE fighter Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXE.

7. Bicycles and boats

The third floor is placed above the first two and is the floor of bicycles and sea vessels. The Praga JKB bicycle from 1937 is the starter, followed by the Detske vysoke kolo Kohout, Zavodni horske, drezina and others. The ships section shows models of vehicles that plied the Czech rivers in the 19th century, steamers and newer modern fleet vessels.