The Silesian Museum is based in Opava. By its own account of its history, it is the oldest public museum in the territory of what is now the Czech Republic. It opened to the public on 1 May 1814 in the building of the state grammar school on Dolní náměstí, in a former Jesuit college.[1]
Opava at the beginning of the 19th century
At the beginning of the 19th century, despite the union of Silesia with Moravia in 1782, Opava retained its importance as an administrative centre. The district office, courts and the estates institutions of the Duchy of Opava and Krnov were based there. The town was shedding its old fortifications, and hospitals, a theatre and other municipal buildings were built. Opava was strengthening its position as the intellectual centre of Austrian Silesia. A main school had operated there since 1775, and in 1819 a special school for teacher training was added to it.[1]
Founding of the museum
The museum owed its creation to the grammar school professor Faustin Ens, the retired captain Franz Mückusch von Buchberg and the mayor of Opava Johann Joseph Schößler. They secured public support and the growth of the collection.[1] A request was then submitted for approval of the statutes and of the name Provincial Museum for Austrian Silesia. The aim was to collect products of nature and of regional studies, especially from Austrian Silesia, and to offer them to students, natural scientists, economists and artists. The same concept of documenting the land in all its diversity is followed by the encyclopaedic work Das Oppaland by F. Ens from the mid-1830s, which does not cover the Cieszyn region.[1]
After years of delay the statutes were approved, but on condition that the name be changed to the Opava Grammar School Museum. In 1820 the founders still had not persuaded Emperor Francis I to agree to the name Museum Karolinum in honour of his consort, and had to settle for the imposed name.[1]
Collections and premises
The collection initially consisted mainly of natural history material, which was deliberately supplemented with material evidence of history and prehistory and with models of production facilities and machines. It grew through field collecting, gifts and purchases, including from other countries. A rich library was part of the museum from the start. The townspeople of Opava and the Silesian nobility saw in the museum a means of raising the prestige of the town and of the land.[1]
The collections continued to grow after Professor Ens retired. Following the administrative reform and the creation of the Land of Silesia, the shortage of space had to be addressed. In the mid-1850s the curator Emanuel Urban initiated the separation of the museum library and its move to the Minorite convent. The next phase was managed by the curator Johann Neumann.[1]