Belau National Museum

Micronesia's oldest museum, telling the story of Palau's matrilineal society, traditional money, and its colonial and WWII history. The Bai on the grounds is the finest woodcarved building in Koror.

The Belau National Museum was founded in 1955 and is the oldest museum in the Micronesia region. It sits on a hillside south of downtown Koror, and in 2006 it moved into a new two-story building funded by Taiwan, China. The exhibits cover Palau's natural history, including coral reefs, endemic species, and saltwater crocodile specimens. They also cover traditional society, including the matrilineal clan system, the council of chiefs, traditional money such as udoud and toluk made from beads and turtle shell, and storyboard woodcarvings that tell stories from the men's house. The colonial period is presented in three stages under Spain, Germany, and Japan. During the Japanese occupation period, Koror was the seat of Japan's South Seas Bureau. WWII is represented by relics from the Battles of Peleliu and Angaur and a collection of Japanese weapons. Modern Palau since independence in 1994 completes the story. Bilingual exhibit captions are limited, but English is available. The most worthwhile sight in the courtyard is the Bai, a traditional men's meeting house. Its tall A-frame timber structure has gables and beams painted with colorful storyboards that depict myths and village history. It is a representative example of Palauan architecture and woodcarving, and visitors may go inside. The museum has a small gift shop and a research library. Admission is about USD 10. Nearby, you can also visit the Etpison Museum, a private museum focused on traditional money and ethnographic photography, about USD 10 admission, as well as Koror's storyboard woodcarving workshops and the WCTC shopping center. Getting there: 10 to 15 minutes on foot from downtown Koror, or by taxi. Note: flash photography is not allowed. The museum may close early on weekends and holidays, so check before you go. Remove your shoes before entering the Bai.

Belau National Museum

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