Yap Living History Museum Explained

9.5161°N 138.1217°W

Full Name:Yap Living History Museum
Abbreviation:YLHM
Status:Non-profit
Location Country:Federated States of Micronesia
Key People:Don Evans (Chairman)
Website:https://www.facebook.com/YapLivingHistoryMuseum

Yap Living History Museum is a museum in Colonia, Yap, in the Federated States of Micronesia. It is a living history museum which is dedicated to Yapese culture.

Background

Yap Living History Museum opened on 7 December 2011.[1] Its creation was supported by a €60,000 grant from the French government.[2] [3] [4] The museum was modelled on the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia. Its creation was organised as a partnership between Yap Visitors Bureau and Yap State Historic Preservation Office. The museum is governed by an advisory board.[5] In 1988 there were doubts over the foundation of the museum, since at the time there were only 1000 tourists visiting Yap each year.[6]

Buildings

The museum consists of four traditionally built houses, as well as a climate-controlled collections centre.[7] The collections building is built in the style of a German colonial property, so that the museum is able to represent this era of the state's history.[8] Re-enactment is also an important aspect of the work of the museum.[9] There are also a number of platforms, as well as examples of stone money.[10] The traditional buildings are used for events, in particular those that support the continuation of Yaps cultural heritage practises, such as the Stone Money Carry. It is also the location for Yap's annual canoe festival, celebrating Micronesian navigation,[11] as well the Homecoming Festival and Yap Day.[12] The audiences intended for many of these events are often tourists.[13]

Collections and research

In 2019 the museum acquired the collection of Art Bergist, who had worked on Yap as a Peace Corps volunteer and teacher in the 1970s. This collection included educational materials, paintings and traditional shell money.[14] In 2015 the museum welcomed visitors from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in order to strengthen connections between cultural heritage researchers in Yap, Palau and Hawai'i.[15]

Overseas collections

As a legacy of colonial occupation, many objects relating to Yap's cultural heritage are held in collections overseas, including: the British Museum;[16] National Museums Scotland;[17] Hearst Museum of Anthropology;[18] the Penn Museum;[19] the Metropolitan Museum of Art, amongst others.[20] In particular, Yap's Rai stones are held in several overseas museums, such as: National Museum of American History;[21] Museum of the National Bank of Belgium;[22] Bremen Museum; Osaka Museum; RBI Kolkata and others.

Gallery of Yapese artefacts held in overseas collections

References

  1. Web site: Yap Living History Museum - Yap - Ocean Island Travel : Where your friends haven't gone. 2021-04-30. oceanislandtravel.com.
  2. Web site: étrangères. Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. Relations bilatérales. 2021-04-30. France Diplomatie - Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères. fr.
  3. Krause. Stefan. 2016-07-01. The Production of Cultural Heritage Discourses: Political Economy and the Intersections of Public and Private Heritage in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. PhD dissertation . University of South Florida. 152.
  4. Lin. Ming. 2014. Marshall Islands. ArtAsiaPacific Almanac. 9 . 144–145 . 1558-8904 . EN.
  5. Web site: YAP LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM TO OPEN Pacific Islands Report. 2021-04-30. www.pireport.org.
  6. Dark. Philip J.C.. 1988. Museums in Micronesia. Pacific Arts Newsletter. 26. 12–20. 23408934. 0111-5774.
  7. Web site: 2018-10-15. Bank of Guam employees donate to Yap cultural museum. 2021-04-30. Saipan Tribune. en-US.
  8. Web site: Staff. Pacific Island Times. 2018-10-16. Yap Living History Museum getting new additions. 2021-04-30. pactimes. en.
  9. Web site: Things To Do in Yap, Micronesia - Tourist Information. 2021-04-30. www.visityap.com. en-US.
  10. Krause. Stefan. 2016-07-01. The Production of Cultural Heritage Discourses: Political Economy and the Intersections of Public and Private Heritage in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. PhD dissertation . University of South Florida. 30.
  11. Web site: 2017-07-27. Yap to hold 8th canoe festival in December. 2021-04-30. Saipan Tribune. en-US.
  12. Krause. Stefan. 2016-07-01. The Production of Cultural Heritage Discourses: Political Economy and the Intersections of Public and Private Heritage in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. PhD dissertation . University of South Florida. 239.
  13. Krause. Stefan. 2016-07-01. The Production of Cultural Heritage Discourses: Political Economy and the Intersections of Public and Private Heritage in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. PhD dissertation . University of South Florida. 72.
  14. Web site: Yap Living History Museum receives donation of historical artifacts for new building. 2021-04-30. www.kpress.info.
  15. Web site: Staff. 2015-08-26. PHOTOS: Delegation from UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College visits Yap and Palau. 2021-04-30. UH Hilo Stories. en-US.
  16. Web site: Collections Online British Museum. 2021-04-30. www.britishmuseum.org.
  17. Web site: Vessel. 2021-04-30. National Museums Scotland. en.
  18. Web site: Hearst Museum of Anthropology. 2021-04-30. hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu. en.
  19. Web site: Model, Canoe - P1760A Collections - Penn Museum. 2021-04-30. www.penn.museum.
  20. Web site: Weather Charm (Hos). 2021-04-30. www.metmuseum.org.
  21. Web site: Rai Stone. 2021-04-30. National Museum of American History. en.
  22. Web site: danneem. The Stone of Yap — Museum of the National Bank of Belgium. 2021-04-30. en-US.

External links

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