The Alele Museum in Majuro is one of the most interesting places you can visit on the Marshall Islands. If you are interested in knowing more about the culture and history of the country, this museum is a good place to start.
Location
The museum is in the city of Majuro. You can get there by taxi.
What to See
The museum showcases the culture and history of the islands. Many artifacts are kept in the museum. One of the most popular attractions is the Kwajalein Cultural Center. There you will see the colonial records of the islands. You will also see some relics and tools there.
The Alele Museum in Majuro also has extensive displays of canoes and pictures from the Joachim de Brum compilation. This is comprised of over 2,500 glass prate negatives. The collection shows scenes of life on the island from 1880 to 1930.
The museum also has a shop where you can purchase many items. Handicrafts are very popular, but there are also T-shirts, DVDs and maps of the islands.
History
The islands were first inhabited in 2000 BC. However, very little known about the island during this time. The first European to arrive on the island was Alonso de Salazar of Spain in 1526. He named the San Bartolome (Taongi today).
On October 1, he and his group landed on another group of islands nearby. He encountered some natives and became friends with them. He christened it Los Jardines. It may have been Bikini Atoll or Eniwetok.
On January 9, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led more Spanish explorers to the area and discovered many other islands. The following years, several more explorers from Spain and Germany came to the site. They discovered many more of the islands that would make up the present Marshall Islands.
Cost
The tourist visas cost 25 USD. This is good for 3 months. The business visas are more expensive, costing 50 USD. When you leave the islands, there is a 20 USD tax.
Other Info
The museum is also known for its images from the US, German and Japanese colonial eras. One of the most popular new attractions is the Mili Atoll shell assortment. There is also a section of the museum with historic records, folk arts and literature.
The Bogan Collection artifacts are some of the biggest attractions at the Alele Museum in Majuro. These are the crafts collection of Eugene Bogan which he donated in 1994.
