Shangri La (Doris Duke) facts for kids
The Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design is a special place in Honolulu, Hawaii. It used to be the home of a woman named Doris Duke. Now, it's a public museum that shows amazing art and culture from the Islamic world.
The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA) owns and runs the museum. If you want to visit, you start your guided tour from the Honolulu Museum of Art. They work together to offer these tours.
Doris Duke started building Shangri La between 1936 and 1938. She got the idea after her honeymoon in 1935, when she traveled through many Islamic countries. For almost 60 years, she collected over 4,000 beautiful objects for her home. A person named Marion Sims Wyeth designed the building. The museum first opened to the public in 2002.
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What You Can See at Shangri La
The museum has a huge collection of art and furniture. You can also see parts of buildings that were brought here. These pieces come from places like Iran, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Syria, Egypt, and India.
Some highlights include shiny, painted ceilings from Morocco. There are also colorful ceramics from Iran. One special piece is a complete lusterware mihrab from the Ilkhanid period. This is a prayer niche, and it's the only one like it in North America. You can also see carved wooden interiors from Syria. There are detailed metalwork pieces and bright textiles from Spain to India. This includes two amazing carpets made for the Mughal emperor.
The museum also has a building called The Playhouse. It's a smaller version of a 17th-century palace in Iran called Chehel Sotoun. Today, The Playhouse is used for public events and for artists who come to stay and work.
Beautiful Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
Outside the museum, there are many lovely gardens. One is a formal Mughal garden. It was inspired by the famous Shalimar Gardens. You can also find water features that flow down in steps. There's a Hawaiian fishpond, tropical gardens, and a waterfall. Plus, you get amazing views of the Pacific Ocean!
Artists and Exhibitions
Shangri La also invites two visual artists each year. They create new art, lead workshops, or give talks. Some artists who have been featured include Hayv Kahraman and Faig Ahmed.
Visiting Shangri La
Shangri La is in a neighborhood where there isn't much parking. Because of this, tours start at the Honolulu Museum of Art. You need to book your tickets early because they are very popular. You cannot just drive to Shangri La by yourself.
Tours usually last about two and a half hours. About one and a half hours are spent at Shangri La itself. The tours show you the main rooms of the museum and parts of the beautiful grounds.
You will see the Entry Courtyard with a mural by Bahia Shehab called My People. You'll also explore the Mughal Garden. The covered lānai offers great views of the Pacific Ocean. You can also see the Playhouse, the pool, and the water cascades.
Public Programs and Events
The museum has many public programs all year long. These include fun educational activities and lectures. Artists who stay at Shangri La also give performances. You might see musicians like Alsarah and the Nubatones. There are also dancers like Amirah Sackett and comedians. Important thinkers like Dr. Lonnie Bunch also give talks.
Where Shangri La Is Located
The museum is on a 4.9-acre oceanfront property. It's in a special neighborhood called Black Point, near Diamond Head, Hawaii. All tours to Shangri La start and end at the Honolulu Museum of Art. That museum is about 3.2 acres and is closer to downtown Honolulu.
Because of rules from the City and County of Honolulu, visitors cannot drive or park at Shangri La. You also cannot park in the streets around the museum.
