Naoero Museum – A Cultural Beacon Preserving Nauru’s Heritage
What it may lack in size, it more than makes up for with its unique collection of artefacts reflecting Nauru’s unique, sometimes turbulent but always fascinating history.
The Naoero Museum occupies a prime position in Nauru’s government district adjacent to the airport, making it a focal point for official visitors, tourists and local events.
Primarily the museum is a magnet for those wanting to learn about Nauru’s unique history – and where the nation may be headed.
The museum’s collection includes original artefacts dating to the Japanese occupation during World War II, such as bombs, anti-aircraft guns and even plane wreck parts.
It also includes an important collection of historical photos which provide a window into the past of how Nauru looked when it was first colonized by Germany in 1888.
To reflect more recent historical events, there’s a photographic collection of the country’s presidents since Nauru gained independence in 1968.
A display on Nauru’s once-booming phosphate industry is another museum drawcard, along with a model of the island itself.
The museum also serves as an important backdrop for key local events, recently hosting the Miss Teen Aroeni beauty pageant.
International journalists have also been drawn in by the museum’s collections, including a Japanese newspaper reporter researching Japan’s wartime occupation of the island.
Increasing overseas tourist visits are further spreading the word about a museum that’s also known for hosting international delegations.
The museum hosted the 54th Presiding Officers & Clerks Conference, which drew in parliamentary speakers from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and the Australian state Queensland.
Local school students are other frequent visitors to a museum long seen by educators as an important learning tool to better inform their pupils about Nauruan history.
One of the museum’s oddities is a photographic display of Nauru’s “first phone card set”, a plastic card once used to pay for telephone services.
With many chapters in its history yet to be written, it’s a safe bet that Naoero Museum will continue in coming years to play a key role in the life of the nation.
