Page 15 - HOH

Tuesday 20 May 2025 LOCAL
A10

Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Museums are of Industry is part of Aruba designed to preserve valu-
an integral part of conserving Museum Foundation (Funda- able artifacts dating back
and honoring cultures, and cion Museo Aruban), which to the Pre-Ceramic period
Aruba is no exception. Our is a foundation set to main- of 2500 BC.
Island has a wide selection tain, preserve, and protect
of various museums for our the Aruban cultural sector, In the late 1980’s, AMA
locals and visitors to see. history, and nature. The mu- identified its need for an
Take this opportunity to learn seum of Industry is open daily adequate housing for its col-
about our island and experi- from 9 am till 6 pm. lection and activities. After
ence a different day beyond For more information, check studying various options, a
the beach. Let us introduce out their Facebook page project proposal was drawn
to you these museums. Museum of Industry Aruba. up, including the acquisition
and restoration of historical Museum Aruba disposes of
Museum of Industry Aruba Archaeological Museum of buildings in downtown Oran- In 1997, the Aruban Govern- approximately 500 m2 for its
The Museum of Industry is lo- Aruba jestad. ment bought the complex permanent exhibit. This ex-
cated in San Nicolas—better The Archaeological Muse- for the National Archaeologi- hibit conveys information on
known as the art capital of um of Aruba is located at These historical buildings cal Museum project. In 2004, the origin and culture of the
Aruba. This museum exhibits Schelpstraat 42 in downtown were formerly the property of a financial agreement was first inhabitants of the island
the industrial history of gold, Oranjestad. The renovated the Ecury family. The “Ecury signed with the European De- through archaeological ob-
aloe, phosphate, oil and historic Ecury complex in the Complex”, is a cluster of velopment Fund and in 2006, jects and modern exhibition
tourism through elaborated area has been transformed single and two-story historic restoration and construction techniques. The new perma-
displays and multimedia in- from a family home to a buildings, mainly Dutch co- work began on the monu- nent exhibit gives the visitor
stallations. modern museum that pre- lonial architecture from the mental buildings and the an insight into the cultures
The Museum of Industry is serves Aruba’s Amerindian late 19th and 20th century soon-to-be exhibition space. that inhabited the island in
situated in the Water Tower cultural heritage. This 21st on a plot of approximately In December 2007, the key to Pre-Historical and Early His-
in San Nicolas and narrates century museum is especially 1.700 m2. the complex was delivered torical times. The museum
Aruba's industrial history, and the museum’s employ- also hosts attractive public
which began in the 19th ees moved to the new lo- programs, including lectures,
century. The Water Tower cation. The final design for educational projects, tem-
was built in 1939 and con- the exhibit was completed in porary exhibits and work-
sists of three sections: the November 2007 and the per- shops.
substructure, the high-rising manent exhibit, financed by
vertical shaft, and the tank the Aruban Government and The museum is open daily
at the top. The Water Tow- the Union of Cultural Orga- from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm. For
er was purchased by the nizations (UNOCA), opened more information check out
Monuments Fund in 2003 so in July 2009. the Facebook page Museo
it can be restored and pre- Arqueologico Nacional
served as one of Aruba's At the new location, the Aruba.q
monuments. The Museum National Archaeological

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

(Oranjestad)—After you’ve visited The bridge was formed during thou- opening through which the water coastline and the Caribbean Sea.
the Alto Vista Church, the Bushiri- sands of years, cut and crafted by would flow into the tiny beach. Visitors can also still visit the souve-
bana Gold Mill Ruins and the mini the wild waves that crash into the nir shop on the left of the bridge
natural pool that is located right coral stone walls of the coast. Be- Unfortunately in 2005, the bridge entrance.
next to it, you’re next up around fore its collapse, this bridge mea- collapsed, and the little beach
the northern coast line must be the sured 30 meters in length and 7 dried up. Despite this, this site re- While the natural bridge no longer
Natural Bridge. Once the largest meters in height, making it the big- mained a tourist attraction, with is functional, there is now a small-
natural bridge in the Caribbean, gest natural bridge in the Caribbe- many visitors walking along the er natural bridge very close. This
this bridge has been a tourist at- an at the time. For many years, this coral cliffs of the bridge to see the bridge is often called the “Baby
traction for many years. site was also a frequently visited spectacular view of the northern Bridge” or “Daughter Bridge”. q
beach, as the bridge had a small