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The Ambergris Museum in the town
of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, opened its doors to the
public on February 4th, 1998. The idea for the museum, and the
fund-raising and painstaking organizing that enabled the museum
to be built are the remarkable work of Lliani Paz. and a group
of dedicated islanders.
Lliani Paz is the Chair of the
Board of Directors of the Ambergris Museum. The other San Pedranos
on the Board who helped to make the museum a reality are: Ernesto
Gomez, Jr., Vice Chair; Gach Guerrero, Treasurer; Pinita Verde,
Secretary; Cheryl Fox, Jim Phipps, and Curator Peter Laws. Thanks
also go to the agencies that contributed funds and expertise
to make the museum a reality: USAID, VSO Great Britain, The Government
of Japan, The British High Commission in Belize, the Belize Tourist
Board, the San Pedro Town Board, and The Royal Ontario Museum.
Special appreciation goes to Peter
Laws, VSO curator and exhibit designer, who helped with the logistics
of interior design and exhibit planning.
On display are Maya artifacts
from excavations on the caye, objects that represent the history
of fishing on the island, historic artifacts and costumes, photos,
paintings, and records and memorabilia representing the local
contribution to the growth and development of the modern nation
of Belize.
New features are still being added
to the exhibits, and work continues on preparing interactive
exhibits for children, on photographic displays, and also on
preparing future exhibits that will represent the long and varied
history of Ambergris Caye and its people. |
