- 20th century
The reconstructed Šolc farm is a small natural history museum with an exhibition hall and gallery. The place was opened to the public by the natural scientist Karel Samšiňák, who started to organize art and natural science exhibitions, artists` meetings and discussions here in the 1960s.
The homestead from 1811, where the poet Václav Šolc was born, is not far from Sobotka square. The writer Karel Václav Rais stayed here several times in the 19th century and wrote many of his works here, including the famous Zapadlí vlastenci (Remote Patriots). The house came into the ownership of the Samšiňák family in the 1930s and was briefly converted into a scout clubhouse and photo studio. During communism, when the farm was nationalized and used as a rental apartment, the entire property fell into serious disrepair. The Samšiňák family managed to renovate the property in the 1960s and entomologist Karel Samšiňák established an art gallery and exhibition hall there. After the revolution, further modifications were made and the place became an important meeting centre for artists and naturalists, and a place for holding natural and artistic exhibitions and talks.
- References
Chalupský, J. Karel Samšiňák zemřel. Zprávy České akarologické společnosti. 2008, roč. 16, č. 2.
Samšiňák, J. Šolcův statek v Sobotce: historie, lidé, umění. Sobotka, 2015, 112 s. ISBN 978-80-270-1253-4.
http://www.solcuvstatek.cz/cs/lide/karel-samsinak/
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