Memories of a Ban – the Jelačić Legacy

On November 5th a large exhibition, “Memories of a Ban – the Jelačić Legacy”, will open at the Croatian History Museum. The exhibition opening is to be held on the 150th anniversary of the Ban’s death and it will feature more than 700 museum artefacts that can be viewed until the end of the year.

With the exhibition “Memories of a Ban – the Jelačić Legacy”, which will be open from November 5th until the end of the year, the Croatian History Museum will present one of the most significant family legacies in Croatia.

The exhibition will feature more than 700 various items, at other times carefully safeguarded in several museum collections, which stand witness to the historic importance of Ban Josip Jelačić’s role, and that of his family, in a broad social and historical context. The exhibition commemorates the 150th anniversary of Ban Jelačić’s death. The intention is to present to the public the entire legacy of the Jelačić family. It represents homage to the persistent tendency to adequately store, preserve and, finally, exhibit valuable national heritage to the general public.

A large part of the collection consists of original items that belonged to the Jelačić family. However, part of the family legacy will also be presented to the public through reproductions and by means of multimedia. Items will be exhibited according to production dates, which envelop a period from the late 18th until the early 20th centuries. The public will also have an opportunity to view numerous family heirlooms from the family property of Novi Dvori in Zaprešić.

The goal of the exhibition is to present the entire family heritage, which has been safeguarded at the Croatian History Museum over the years, including numerous items that have been donated by descendants of the Jelačić family. Following the Ban’s family chronology, the exhibition will offer an insight into an important period of Croatian history, and the pivotal role that was played by Ban Josip Jelačić during that time.