The Ambergris Museum

The Ambergris Museum in the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, opened its doors to the public on February 4th, 1998. The idea for the museum, and the fund-raising and painstaking organizing that enabled the museum to be built are the remarkable work of Lliani Paz. and a group of dedicated islanders.

Lliani Paz is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ambergris Museum. The other San Pedranos on the Board who helped to make the museum a reality are: Ernesto Gomez, Jr., Vice Chair; Gach Guerrero, Treasurer; Pinita Verde, Secretary; Cheryl Fox, Jim Phipps, and Curator Peter Laws. Thanks also go to the agencies that contributed funds and expertise to make the museum a reality: USAID, VSO Great Britain, The Government of Japan, The British High Commission in Belize, the Belize Tourist Board, the San Pedro Town Board, and The Royal Ontario Museum.

Special appreciation goes to Peter Laws, VSO curator and exhibit designer, who helped with the logistics of interior design and exhibit planning.

On display are Maya artifacts from excavations on the caye, objects that represent the history of fishing on the island, historic artifacts and costumes, photos, paintings, and records and memorabilia representing the local contribution to the growth and development of the modern nation of Belize.

New features are still being added to the exhibits, and work continues on preparing interactive exhibits for children, on photographic displays, and also on preparing future exhibits that will represent the long and varied history of Ambergris Caye and its people.