Page 5 - HOH

a8 local
Saturday 1 February 2025

Create memories at the industrial museum!

ORANJESTAD — Museums are an integral part of
conserving and honoring cultures, and Aruba is
no exception. Our Island has a wide selection
of various museums for our locals and visitors
to see. Take this opportunity to learn about our
island and experience a different day beyond
the beach.

Museum of Industry Aruba
The Museum of Industry is located in San Nico-
las—better known as the art capital of Aruba. Monuments Fund in 2003 so it can be restored
This museum exhibits the industrial history of and preserved as one of Aruba's monuments.
gold, aloe, phosphate, oil and tourism through The Museum of Industry is part of Aruba Mu-
elaborated displays and multimedia installa- seum Foundation (Fundacion Museo Aruban),
tions. The Museum of Industry is situated in the which is a foundation set to maintain, preserve,
Water Tower in San Nicolas and narrates Aru- and protect the Aruban cultural sector, history,
ba's industrial history, which began in the 19th and nature. The museum of Industry is open dai-
century. The Water Tower was built in 1939 and ly from 9 am till 6 pm.
consists of three sections: the substructure, the For more information, check out their Facebook
high-rising vertical shaft, and the tank at the page Museum of Industry Aruba.q
top. The Water Tower was purchased by the

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

NOORD - It is hard to imagine this long and interesting process. It can ter, creating millions of beautiful
happening today, but years ago take anywhere from 10 to 30 years smooth rocks.
people dumped all kinds of refuse to make sea glass. The name for It’s hard to believe the short-
straight into the ocean, including any piece of glass that finds its way sighted mistakes we were making
old cars, and their household gar- to the ocean and tumbles around that could have potentially ru-
bage, which of course included in the water long enough is “Sea ined these beautiful beaches. But
lots of glass. Over the next 30 years glass. thanks to natural processes, the
the pounding waves cleaned the The colorful pieces of glass are ocean transformed the trash into island. Make it a fun family day!
beach, by breaking down every- being used for decoration, hand- the sea glass. Even if we didn’t mean to pollute
thing but glass and pottery. The crafts and jewelry! Each colored gem on the beach the Beaches how we did, it is inspir-
pounding waves washed the trash Once glass makes its way into the has its own story. ing to see just how the earth can
up and down, back and forth. Tons ocean, the glass is broken up into correct our mistakes.
of polished, broken glass pieces shards and is tumbled around in The ruby red glass stones are typi-
were created by the pounding surf. the water, where sand and other cally from old car tail-lights. Funny, how trash can change into
These smoothened, colored glass rocks act like sandpaper to smooth treasures!
particles then settled along the sea out its rough edges. Sometimes as Then, the sapphire rocks are the
shore in millions, and that is why the sea glass is passed through fire, remnants of broken apothecary Everybody knows that you are not
you can find these beautiful and it becomes fire glass, the rarest of bottles. The most common and the allowed to take local shells home,
colorful pieces on the north shore sea glass with certain inclusions, easiest to find are the brown (Ams- but the people working at the air-
beaches of Aruba. just like precious gems. tel & Polar beer), green (Heineken port have no problem you taking
For years, the water beat against & Balashi beer) and clear glass sea glass home. A few of those
Especially on the strip on white the different kinds of trash being which are the soft much loved pieces make great souvenirs. You
sand between the famous Natural dumped. Glass, household ap- “soft drink” bottles. can place them in a wine glass or
Bridge” and the huge red anchor pliances and even motor parts If you like to see the sea glass for large bottle for decoration and ev-
close to “Grapefield” beach you were discarded on the beach. yourself, and be in awe of the ery time you look at it a smile will
will be able to find your own pieces The waves and weather condi- power of nature, rent a car or light up your face thinking back of
of sea glass. The sea glass that was tions wore down the overwhelm- jeep and go explore our deserted your unforgettable Aruba vaca-
created is the product of a very ing amount of garbage in the wa- beaches on the north side of the tion! q