Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust facts for kids
.jpg)
The location of the Falkland Islands Museum since 2014
|
|
| Location | Stanley, Falkland Islands |
|---|---|
| Owner | Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust (FIMNT) |
The Falkland Islands Museum is a special place in Stanley, the capital city of the Falkland Islands. Stanley is located in the South Atlantic Ocean. The museum is found at the historic dockyard site. It is managed by the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust (FIMNT). This group is a registered charity.
The museum collects items that tell the story of the Falkland Islands. It covers both the natural world and the history of the people. The FIMNT also helps protect important historical and archaeological sites across the islands.
The museum has an interactive room. This room shares the experiences of Islanders during the 1982 conflict. There is also a large section about maritime history. This area lets visitors see big items related to ships and the sea. The museum now has over 5,000 items. These include pictures, drawings, photos, and old documents. They also have stories told by people, films, videos, and old records.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
The idea for a museum in the Falkland Islands began a long time ago. It started in the early 1900s. Mrs. Allardyce, the wife of Governor Sir William Lamond Allardyce, wanted to create a collection. She wanted to show the history of the colony.
Sir William and his wife left the islands on November 9, 1909. Just before they left, he officially opened the museum.
Early Collections and Challenges
The first collection was called a "collection of curiosities." It was kept in the old Infant School building. It had many different items. Some items were not even from the Falklands. For example, it had hair from a prehistoric Mylodon. This was a giant sloth found in a cave in South America. It was given by the Minister of Russia to Chile. The museum also had local bird eggs and stones from a sea lion's stomach. There was even a fossilized shell.
Later, the museum moved to the ground floor of the Town Hall. It continued to grow its collection of natural history items. However, most of these items were lost. The Town Hall building burned down on April 16, 1944.
New Beginnings and Moves
In the 1960s, a small museum opened again. It was run by volunteers. It was in a back room of the town's gymnasium building. The museum quickly became too big for this small space. The Falkland Islands Company offered two rooms in their Crozier Place building. So, the museum moved there.
During the Argentine occupation in 1982, the museum's collection was packed away. It was stored safely to protect it.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1987, people decided to reopen the museum in "Britannia House." This building was a good choice. Britannia House was a prefabricated house from Brazil. It was built in 1981 for an Argentine airline. After the occupation ended, the house got its new name. It was used by British Forces commanders. This was until Mount Pleasant Airport was finished in 1985.
The museum officially opened in Britannia House on February 13, 1989. It was opened by the former governor, Sir Rex Hunt. Moving to its current location took several years. This was because raising money for the project took time.
The new historic dockyard development opened on September 6, 2014.
Recent Developments
In 2010, the Falkland Islands Museum received a special gift. It was a complete collection of National Stamps from 1878 to 1999.
In August 2020, members of the Legislative Assembly of Falkland Islands approved a loan for the museum. This money helped support the Lookout Gallery and Exhibition Hall.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Museo de las Islas Malvinas para niños
