Page 10 - AHATA

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local Monday 2 october 2023

Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Muse- it can be restored and pre-
ums are an integral part of served as one of Aruba's
conserving and honoring monuments. The Museum
cultures, and Aruba is no of Industry is part of Aruba
exception. Our Island has Museum Foundation (Fun-
a wide selection of vari- dacion Museo Aruban),
ous museums for our locals which is a foundation set
and visitors to see. Take this to maintain, preserve, and
opportunity to learn about protect the Aruban cultural
our island and experience sector, history, and nature.
a different day beyond the The museum of Industry is
beach. Let us introduce to open daily from 9 am till 6
you these museums. pm.

Museum of Industry Aruba For more information,
The Museum of Industry is lo- check out their Facebook In 1997, the Aruban Gov- Museum Aruba disposes of
cated in San Nicolas—bet- page Museum of Industry In the late 1980’s, AMA ernment bought the com- approximately 500 m2 for
ter known as the art capital Aruba. identified its need for an plex for the National Ar- its permanent exhibit. This
of Aruba. This museum ex- adequate housing for its chaeological Museum exhibit conveys informa-
hibits the industrial history of Archaeological Museum of collection and activities. project. In 2004, a financial tion on the origin and cul-
gold, aloe, phosphate, oil Aruba After studying various op- agreement was signed ture of the first inhabitants
and tourism through elabo- The Archaeological Mu- tions, a project proposal with the European Devel- of the island through ar-
rated displays and multi- seum of Aruba is located was drawn up, including opment Fund and in 2006, chaeological objects and
media installations. at Schelpstraat 42 in down- the acquisition and restora- restoration and construc- modern exhibition tech-
The Museum of Industry is town Oranjestad. The reno- tion of historical buildings in tion work began on the niques. The new perma-
situated in the Water Tower vated historic Ecury com- downtown Oranjestad. monumental buildings and nent exhibit gives the visitor
in San Nicolas and narrates plex in the area has been the soon-to-be exhibition an insight into the cultures
Aruba's industrial history, transformed from a fam- These historical buildings space. In December 2007, that inhabited the island in
which began in the 19th ily home to a modern mu- were formerly the proper- the key to the complex Pre-Historical and Early His-
century. The Water Tower seum that preserves Aru- ty of the Ecury family. The was delivered and the mu- torical times. The museum
was built in 1939 and con- ba’s Amerindian cultural “Ecury Complex”, is a clus- seum’s employees moved also hosts attractive public
sists of three sections: the heritage. This 21st century ter of single and two-story to the new location. The programs, including lec-
substructure, the high-rising museum is especially de- historic buildings, mainly final design for the exhibit tures, educational projects,
vertical shaft, and the tank signed to preserve valu- Dutch colonial architec- was completed in Novem- temporary exhibits and
at the top. The Water Tow- able artifacts dating back ture from the late 19th and ber 2007 and the perma- workshops.
er was purchased by the to the Pre-Ceramic period 20th century on a plot of nent exhibit, financed by
Monuments Fund in 2003 so of 2500 BC. approximately 1.700 m2. the Aruban Government The museum is open dai-
and the Union of Cultural ly from 9:30 am till 4:30
Organizations (UNOCA), pm. For more information
opened in July 2009. check out the Facebook
page Museo Arqueologico
At the new location, the Nacional Aruba.q
National Archaeological