Passengers traveling through Franjo Tuđman Airport now have a unique opportunity to learn about distinguished figures from Croatian history thanks to the exhibition “Stars of Croatian History: The Sky is Their Limit. Meet Them!” This remarkable display by the Croatian History Museum is located in the Museum Zone of the passenger terminal, right after security control, offering a modern and interactive presentation of individuals who have left an indelible mark on Croatia and the world.
The Museum Zone at Zagreb Airport is the first concept of its kind in this region. It emerged from the Croatian History Museum’s need to find alternative exhibition spaces while its original location undergoes restoration following earthquake damage. Franjo Tuđman Airport proved to be an ideal partner, providing an attractive space visited by over four million passengers annually.
The Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia has supported this collaboration. At the exhibition’s opening, Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek emphasized that what started as a necessity for the museum has evolved into a valuable opportunity. She highlighted that this representative setting will allow the museum to showcase its artifacts to a large audience until its permanent premises are restored.
The exhibition “Stars of Croatian History” presents 24 prominent Croatians from various fields, including:
- Slavoljub Penkala – inventor of the mechanical pencil
- Ivan Vučetić – pioneer of fingerprint identification
- Andrija Štampar – co-founder of the World Health Organization
- Leopold (Lavoslav) Ružička – first Croatian Nobel Prize laureate
- Ivan Meštrović – renowned sculptor
- Milka Trnina – “the Croatian nightingale”
- Dražen Petrović – the first Croatian basketball player in the NBA
- Franjo Tuđman – the first president of Croatia
The director of the Croatian History Museum, Matea Brstilo Rešetar, expressed gratitude to Franjo Tuđman Airport for providing an opportunity to present museum artifacts to a broader audience in an innovative and creative way. She noted that selecting 24 historical figures was a challenging task, given the high number of exceptional Croatians who have excelled in various fields.
This long-term partnership between a national museum and a state institution will contribute to strengthening national identity. Both domestic and international travelers will have the chance to experience key aspects of Croatian history in a modern setting and engage with the country’s rich heritage in an interactive and engaging way.
For more details about the exhibition, visit the official website of Franjo Tuđman Airport.
