Belau National Museum
Koror
The Belau National Museum, located in Koror, Palau, is the oldest continuously operating museum in Micronesia, established in 1955. It was originally named the Palau Museum and founded by prominent Palauans and an anthropologist. The museum is housed in a two-storey building within the Palau Botanical Garden, featuring two exhibition spaces, a photographic archive, offices, and a shop. Its collections include over 1,000 objects that reflect Palauan cultural, historical, and biological heritage, such as traditional bead money (udoud) and artifacts related to house-buying ceremonies (ocheraol). The museum also preserves intangible cultural heritage by documenting traditional practices like taro production. A notable feature is the reconstructed traditional bai meeting house, rebuilt in the early 1990s after a fire. The museum maintains a library with over 5,000 books on Palauan history and culture and has developed digitized archives of photographs and media. It actively participates in scientific research and international collaborations, including a partnership with the National Museum in Prague. The museum plays a vital role in preserving Palau's heritage amid challenges such as past artifact thefts and the dispersal of cultural items held overseas due to colonial legacies.
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Tip: Visitors are encouraged to check the museum's official website for current special exhibits and opening hours. The best time to visit is during the daytime when all exhibitions and the traditional bai are accessible. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended during peak tourist seasons. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, and groups. Visitors interested in Palauan culture should allocate time to explore the photographic archives and the gift shop, which features local crafts and books.
Interesting facts
- •Belau National Museum is the oldest continuously running museum in Micronesia, established in 1955.
- •The museum houses a reconstructed traditional bai, a Palauan village meeting house, rebuilt in the early 1990s after a fire.
- •Its photographic archive includes images from Japanese and German colonial periods in Palau.
- •The museum's natural science department conducted a bird life survey at the Rock Islands' southern lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- •Important Palauan cultural artifacts are held in overseas collections due to colonial histories, including in Berlin, Glasgow, and the British Museum.
- •In 2003, the museum's media collection underwent digitization funded by a U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services grant.
History
Founded in 1955 as the Palau Museum, the Belau National Museum is Micronesia's oldest continuously running museum.
Initially located in the former Japanese Administration Weather Bureau, it relocated in 1970 to a new building funded by the Republic of China within the Palau Botanical Garden.
In 1973, its administration shifted to a non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees.
The traditional bai meeting house was constructed in 1969, destroyed by fire in 1979, and rebuilt in the early 1990s using traditional methods.
Over the decades, the museum expanded its collections and digitized its media archives, reflecting ongoing efforts to preserve Palauan cultural heritage.
Place Guide
Traditional Bai Meeting House1969 (rebuilt early 1990s)
A reconstructed traditional Palauan village meeting house showcasing indigenous building styles and cultural practices. Originally built in 1969, destroyed by fire in 1979, and rebuilt in the early 1990s using traditional methods, it serves as a central cultural exhibit within the museum grounds.
Main Exhibition Hall
Displays artifacts representing Palau's traditional culture and arts, including bead money (udoud) and objects related to the house-buying ceremony (ocheraol). The hall provides insights into the daily life and customs of Palauan people.
Photographic ArchiveEarly 2000s (digitization)
An air-conditioned archive housing several hundred historical photographs documenting Palau's colonial history under Japanese and German rule. The archive supports research and cultural preservation efforts and was digitized in the early 2000s.
Museum Library
A library containing over 5,000 books on Palauan history, culture, and natural science, serving as a resource for researchers and visitors interested in deeper knowledge about Palau.
Contact
Phone: 488 2265
