Page 14 - AHATA

a8 local
Tuesday 14 November 2023

Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Muse- in San Nicolas and narrates
ums are an integral part of Aruba's industrial history,
conserving and honoring which began in the 19th
cultures, and Aruba is no century. The Water Tower
exception. Our Island has was built in 1939 and con-
a wide selection of vari- sists of three sections: the
ous museums for our locals substructure, the high-rising
and visitors to see. Take this vertical shaft, and the tank
opportunity to learn about at the top. The Water Tow-
our island and experience er was purchased by the
a different day beyond the Monuments Fund in 2003 so
beach. Let us introduce to it can be restored and pre-
you these museums. served as one of Aruba's
monuments. The Museum
Museum of Industry Aruba of Industry is part of Aruba page Museum of Industry ily home to a modern mu- space. In December 2007,
The Museum of Industry is lo- Museum Foundation (Fun- Aruba. seum that preserves Aru- the key to the complex
cated in San Nicolas—bet- dacion Museo Aruban), ba’s Amerindian cultural was delivered and the mu-
ter known as the art capital which is a foundation set Archaeological Museum heritage. This 21st century seum’s employees moved
of Aruba. This museum ex- to maintain, preserve, and of Aruba museum is especially de- to the new location. The
hibits the industrial history of protect the Aruban cultural The Archaeological Mu- signed to preserve valu- final design for the exhibit
gold, aloe, phosphate, oil sector, history, and nature. seum of Aruba is located able artifacts dating back was completed in Novem-
and tourism through elabo- The museum of Industry is at Schelpstraat 42 in down- to the Pre-Ceramic period ber 2007 and the perma-
rated displays and multi- open daily from 9 am till 6 town Oranjestad. The reno- of 2500 BC. nent exhibit, financed by
media installations. pm. vated historic Ecury com- the Aruban Government
The Museum of Industry is For more information, plex in the area has been In the late 1980’s, AMA and the Union of Cultural
situated in the Water Tower check out their Facebook transformed from a fam- identified its need for an Organizations (UNOCA),
adequate housing for its opened in July 2009.
collection and activities.
After studying various op- At the new location, the
tions, a project proposal National Archaeological
was drawn up, including Museum Aruba disposes of
the acquisition and restora- approximately 500 m2 for
tion of historical buildings in its permanent exhibit. This
downtown Oranjestad. exhibit conveys informa-
tion on the origin and cul-
These historical buildings ture of the first inhabitants
were formerly the proper- of the island through ar-
ty of the Ecury family. The chaeological objects and
“Ecury Complex”, is a clus- modern exhibition tech-
ter of single and two-story niques. The new perma-
historic buildings, mainly nent exhibit gives the visitor
Dutch colonial architec- an insight into the cultures
ture from the late 19th and that inhabited the island in
20th century on a plot of Pre-Historical and Early His-
approximately 1.700 m2. torical times. The museum
also hosts attractive public
In 1997, the Aruban Gov- programs, including lec-
ernment bought the com- tures, educational projects,
plex for the National Ar- temporary exhibits and
chaeological Museum workshops.
project. In 2004, a financial
agreement was signed The museum is open dai-
with the European Devel- ly from 9:30 am till 4:30
opment Fund and in 2006, pm. For more information
restoration and construc- check out the Facebook
tion work began on the page Museo Arqueologico
monumental buildings and Nacional Aruba.q
the soon-to-be exhibition