Jean P. Haydon Museum
American Samoa
The Jean P. Haydon Museum, located in Fagatogo, American Samoa, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the culture and history of this U.S. territory. Housed in a historically significant building constructed in 1913 as the U.S. Naval Station Tutuila Commissary, the museum opened in 1971 and was named after First Lady Jean P. Haydon. It features extensive collections including traditional Samoan canoes (va'a and 'alia), coconut-shell combs, pigs’ tusk armlets, native pharmacopoeia, and siapo cloth. Visitors can explore exhibits on tapa making, traditional tattooing, and a variety of weapons and tools used in early island life. The museum also holds unique artifacts related to American Samoa's connection to the Apollo space missions, including lunar rocks and an American Samoa flag that traveled to the Moon. Notable historical relics include a cannon from the Hawaiian Kingdom's warship Kaimiloa, symbolizing Polynesian unity efforts and local defense history. The museum serves as the official repository for American Samoan artifacts and is a cultural hub supported by the American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture and the Humanities.
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Consejo: The best time to visit the Jean P. Haydon Museum is during weekdays when it is less crowded, allowing for an immersive experience. It is advisable to check opening hours in advance and consider contacting the museum for any special events or guided tours. While entrance fees may apply, discounts could be available for students, seniors, or groups. Booking ahead is recommended for larger groups or educational visits to ensure availability and personalized tours.
Datos interesantes
- •The museum houses lunar rocks brought back from multiple Apollo missions, including Apollo 10, 12, 13, 14, and 17, which landed near Tutuila upon returning to Earth.
- •An American Samoa flag that was carried to the Moon by Apollo 11 in 1969 is displayed at the museum, a gift from President Richard Nixon.
- •The building is one of the few surviving U.S. Navy structures built in 1917 using locally made rusticated concrete blocks.
- •The museum holds a cannon from the Hawaiian Kingdom's warship Kaimiloa, which played a role in local defense during the Samoan Civil War.
- •The museum's collection includes the 'Fala o Futa,' an exquisite fine mat reputed to be the first of its kind in Samoa.
Historia
The museum building was originally constructed in 1913 as part of the U.S.
Naval Station Tutuila and served as the naval commissary until 1950.
It then became the main post office until 1971, when it was converted into a museum named after Jean P.
Haydon, the wife of Governor John M.
Haydon.
The museum was officially opened in 1971 and dedicated by anthropologist Margaret Mead.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1978.
Over the years, it has developed close ties with the Bishop Museum of Hawai'i and continues to serve as the cultural repository of American Samoa.
Guía del lugar
Traditional Canoes Exhibit
This exhibit showcases the va'a and 'alia, traditional Samoan canoes that inspired the old name for the Samoan Islands, the Navigator Islands. The display highlights their construction, cultural significance, and role in navigation and warfare.
Apollo Space Missions Gallery1969-1972
Dedicated to American Samoa's role in the Apollo missions, this gallery features lunar rocks collected from missions Apollo 10, 12, 13, 14, and 17, as well as the American Samoa flag that went to the Moon with Apollo 11 in 1969.
Kaimiloa Cannon Display1887
This exhibit presents a cannon from the Kaimiloa, the only warship of King Kalākaua of Hawai'i's fleet, which was sent to Samoa in 1887. The cannon was used by the people of Aunuʻu Island to repel an invading fleet during the Samoan Civil War.
Traditional Artifacts Collection
Featuring coconut-shell necklaces, pigs’ tusk armlets, fly-whisks, bamboo panpipes, stone tools, and siapo cloth, this collection illustrates the material culture and artistry of early Samoan life.
Fala o Futa Fine Mat
A prized exhibit, the Fala o Futa is an exquisite fine mat believed to be the first of its kind in Samoa, donated by Senate President H.C. Salanoa S.P. Aumoeualogo.
Contacto
Teléfono: (684) 633-4347
