THEN

In 1896 the Bohemian National Hall was erected, designed by William C. Frohne the hall had its fair share of drama when constructed. The Hall was to become the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Society (BBLA) an umbrella building for many different Czech organizations, there was a fundraiser that raised $200 to build the new hall. The tension came from the sokol, the original Bohemian Hall did not have space for the sokol and the sokol desperate for space argued to be separated and have its own building for its needs. The sokol removed itself from the BBLA and raised its own money to build its own building. The hall however was still constructed, holding a ballroom, restaurant, bars and many more other rooms for the community. But by 1986 the building became a ghost town, deteriorating as time went on, the Landmark Preservation Commission however found the beauty in the building and designated it a landmark in 1994. In 1995 the façade is restored by Czech American architect Jan Hird Pokorny and in 2001 the Hall was sold for $1 to the Czech Republic. Here the country vowed to renovate the interiors and by 2008 its grand opening is revealed. Today the Consulate General of the Czech Republic has its offices there, as well as the BBLA, the Bohemian Spirit Restaurant and other organizations are held in the building, keeping the Czech spirit alive in the Upper East Side.