National Maritime Museum (Galle)

The National Maritime Museum in Galle, Sri Lanka is located within the Galle fort. On March 2010, it was reopened at the Dutch warehouse of the Galle fort as the National Maritime Archaeology Museum^[1].

Exhibits of marine artifacts found in underwater explorations are show cased in the Museum. There are maps, naval craft, ropes, earthenware, beer mugs, smoking pipes, barrels, vast amount of articles including artillery guns and sailor shoes. Ship wrecks in the sea off the Southern coast is where these artifacts were recovered from, some of which are nearly 800 years old.^[2]

The state of the museum Before the Tsunami

Before the Tsunami of December 2004, this museum specialized in the fauna and flora of the sea. Artifacts consisted of underwater artifacts and scaled-down models of whales and fish.

Other exhibits included life-size dioramas of the traditional methods of fishing and the "walk into the sea" diorama, showing the natural coral beds, sea grass beds and deep sea fish. One of the final exhibits of the museum was a display of the causes of sea pollution, coast erosion, and the methods used to combat these problems.

Tsunami Damage

The museum suffered flood damage from the 2004 Asian tsunami.^[3]

The Dutch warehouse building at the fort, built in 1717, was renovated and was planned to house the museum at the end of 2008.^{[4][dated info]}

The Museum Reopened

On March 4, 2010, it was reopened as the country's first Maritime Archaeology Museum. The Dutch warehouse was of 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²) was renovated under a special grant of Rs.177 million from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

See also

• Colombo Port Maritime Museum

References

1. ^ "President opens the first Maritime Archaeology Museum in Sri Lanka". The Colombo Page. March 4, 2010. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10/Mar1267714584CH.html. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
2. ^ "President opens the first Maritime Archaeology Museum in Sri Lanka". The Colombo Page. March 4, 2010. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10/Mar1267714584CH.html. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
3. ^ "After the deluge". The Hindu. March 6, 2005. http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/03/06/stories/2005030600030100.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-18. 
4. ^ Ravi Ladduwahetty (January 7, 2007). "From Dutch warehouse to maritime museum". The Nation (Sri Lanka). http://www.nation.lk/2007/01/07/eyefea8.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-18.