1973-1990: In an effort to preserve the vast Bohemian/Czech legacy of Cedar Rapids, the Czech Heritage Foundation was created in 1974 and a new direction began for the 16th Avenue SW shopping area. The concept of a “Czech Village” was created to redefine 16th Avenue SW from the Cedar River to the United State Bank building at Hamilton Street SW. The appearance of many of the 16th Avenue SW commercial store buildings were “altered” to look more European, as seen by this view of the Kosek store at 87 16th Avenue SW about 1980.
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