Czech museum ends its move; elevation is next

At last.

Two weeks after the monumental move began, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 30 16th Ave. SW, was finally positioned Tuesday in front of its new home.

Gary Rozek, who leads the museum board's building committee, said the museum rolled into place about 7:30 p.m., covering nearly 70 feet since the afternoon and 480 feet from its original spot along the Cedar River.

"Yes, we finished and everything's perfect," he said.

The next phase involves removing the 40 dollies - 10 of which were hydraulic and powered the move - and elevating the building with jacks and cribbing.

Rozek said the museum will be lifted about 12 feet so the building can slide onto its new foundation  on top of a parking garage. That process could take another six to eight weeks.

Nearly daily downpours hampered progress by the movers, Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, which started the relocation on June 8.

Here is the update from Monday's move.