Naoero Museum

Nauru keeps a small museum holding what remains of the island's material record: fishing and frigatebird-catching gear, shell and coconut work, photographs, and material from the phosphate years that shaped the whole island. A great deal has been lost over the decades, to storms, to storage conditions and to the disruptions of the twentieth century, so what is there matters more than its size suggests. The building is small and the collection is held in a few rooms rather than a dedicated gallery.

History

The museum grew from a private collection and was first funded by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation; it closed in the 2000s over land disputes, a plan for a new museum was presented in 2014 to help preserve Nauruan language and culture, and it formally opened on 30 January 2019 (Wikipedia, Nauru Museum).

What you'll find

• The fishing gear - the equipment the island's food came from.
• The frigatebird material - objects from the island's distinctive tradition.
• The phosphate record - photographs and material from the mining years.
• The shell and coconut work - the traditional craft that survives.

When to go

March to October is the drier season. Opening is irregular and depends on staff being there. Ask locally before making the trip.

What to expect

Opening hours are irregular and it may well be shut. The collection is small and much has been lost. There is little interpretation and conditions are basic.

Nearby

Yaren is nearby, and the ring road passes it.

Key facts