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local Tuesday 9 January 2024
Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Museums er was purchased by the preserve valuable artifacts
are an integral part of con- Monuments Fund in 2003 so dating back to the Pre-Ce-
serving and honoring cul- it can be restored and pre- ramic period of 2500 BC.
tures, and Aruba is no ex- served as one of Aruba's
ception. Our Island has a monuments. The Museum In the late 1980’s, AMA
wide selection of various of Industry is part of Aruba identified its need for an
museums for our locals and Museum Foundation (Fun- adequate housing for its
visitors to see. Take this op- dacion Museo Aruban), collection and activities.
portunity to learn about our which is a foundation set After studying various op-
island and experience a to maintain, preserve, and tions, a project proposal
different day beyond the protect the Aruban cultural was drawn up, including
beach. Let us introduce to sector, history, and nature. the acquisition and restora-
you these museums. The museum of Industry is tion of historical buildings in began on the monumen- on the origin and culture of
open daily from 9 am till 6 downtown Oranjestad. tal buildings and the soon- the first inhabitants of the
Museum of Industry Aruba pm. to-be exhibition space. In island through archaeo-
The Museum of Industry is lo- These historical buildings December 2007, the key to logical objects and mod-
cated in San Nicolas—bet- For more information, were formerly the proper- the complex was delivered ern exhibition techniques.
ter known as the art capital check out their Facebook ty of the Ecury family. The and the museum’s employ- The new permanent exhibit
of Aruba. This museum ex- page Museum of Industry “Ecury Complex”, is a clus- ees moved to the new lo- gives the visitor an insight
hibits the industrial history of Aruba. ter of single and two-story cation. The final design for into the cultures that in-
gold, aloe, phosphate, oil historic buildings, mainly the exhibit was completed habited the island in Pre-
and tourism through elabo- Archaeological Museum Dutch colonial architec- in November 2007 and Historical and Early Histori-
rated displays and multi- of Aruba ture from the late 19th and the permanent exhibit, fi- cal times. The museum also
media installations. The Archaeological Mu- 20th century on a plot of nanced by the Aruban hosts attractive public pro-
The Museum of Industry is seum of Aruba is located approximately 1.700 m2. Government and the Union grams, including lectures,
situated in the Water Tower at Schelpstraat 42 in down- of Cultural Organizations educational projects, tem-
in San Nicolas and narrates town Oranjestad. The reno- In 1997, the Aruban Govern- (UNOCA), opened in July porary exhibits and work-
Aruba's industrial history, vated historic Ecury com- ment bought the complex 2009. shops.
which began in the 19th plex in the area has been for the National Archaeo-
century. The Water Tower transformed from a family logical Museum project. At the new location, the The museum is open daily
was built in 1939 and con- home to a modern museum In 2004, a financial agree- National Archaeological from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm.
sists of three sections: the that preserves Aruba’s Am- ment was signed with the Museum Aruba disposes of For more information check
substructure, the high-rising erindian cultural heritage. European Development approximately 500 m2 for out the Facebook page
vertical shaft, and the tank This 21st century museum Fund and in 2006, restora- its permanent exhibit. This Museo Arqueologico Na-
at the top. The Water Tow- is especially designed to tion and construction work exhibit conveys information cional Aruba.q

Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

like hurricanes and tsuna- These findings can certainly This research is also im-
mis. put things into perspective. portant for the future of
The ground on which we coral reefs on the island.
Through underwater and have walked many times By studying rising sea lev-
land surveillance, and 3D in the northern part of the els and climate impact on
models of the reefs, they island hold such rich history, these coral reefs, we are
were able to narrow down history that dates back to able to take concrete ac-
when these formations a time that most of us can- tion in protecting and pre-
started to take place. They not even imagine. As the serving our coral reefs. So, if
were also able to track the scientists themselves have you are ever visiting one of
fluctuation of sea levels pointed out, these fossilized the bocas or driving along
during the past hundred or reefs on the windward side the northern part of the is-
even thousands of years, are truly an incredible and land, please be conscious
and the effects that this rare remnant of geologi- to help protect our natu-
fluctuation has had on the cal history, as they provide ral historical remnant. Oh,
(Oranjestad)— If you’ve faculty at the University of coral reefs of the windward a clear view of how these and wear (coral-friendly)
been to the northern coast Bremen, Prof. dr. Alessio side of Aruba. reefs have formed. sunscreen!q
of Aruba already, you’ve Rovere from the Ca' Fosc-
probably noticed how the ari University of Venice and
ground differs entirely from Prof. dr. Gianfranco Scic-
the sandy beaches on the chitano, from the University
southern part of the island. of Bari Aldo Moro, present-
These hard surfaces, with ed their research on these
sharp bumps and holes fossilized coral reefs at the
are actually fossilized coral University of Aruba. Their
reefs, of which its growth focus for their research in-
and changes can be cluded studying the health
traced back to the last gla- and formation patterns of
cial period. these coral reefs, and to
investigate how these reefs
On May 30 2023, geosci- have responded and can
entists, Dr. Patrick Boyden respond to fluctuating sea
from the Marum research levels or extreme weather,