Rockefeller Archaeological Museum
מוזיאון רוקפלר
A British Mandate-era archaeology museum just outside Damascus Gate in the Old City, with a white stone building and arcaded courtyard, housing treasures such as carved wooden beams from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Rockefeller Museum sits just outside Damascus Gate at the northeastern corner of the Old City. It was built in 1938 during the British Mandate, funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and designed by Austen St. Barbe Harrison. Its white stone, octagonal tower and arcaded courtyard with a pool blend Eastern and Western styles. The galleries display artifacts unearthed in the Palestine region in chronological order. Highlights include 8th-century carved wooden beams from Al-Aqsa Mosque, Crusader-era lintel carvings from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and stucco carvings from Hisham's Palace. The overall atmosphere is old-fashioned and quiet. The museum is now run by the Israel Museum. Admission is free, but it opens on few days and for short hours, so be sure to check in advance. It is about a 10-minute walk from Damascus Gate. Keep an eye on the security situation in East Jerusalem neighborhoods.
Opening hours
Open several days a week, approx. 10:00 am–3:00 pm (shorter Sat; check Israel Museum website)
Nearby sights
- Church of Saint Anne & Pool of Bethesda
- Tomb of the Virgin Mary
- Garden Tomb
- Damascus Gate
- Via Dolorosa
- Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif)
- Gethsemane & Church of All Nations
- Western Wall