A PHOTO DISPLAY of island life 50 to 70 years ago, historical buildings and sites, and PORTRAITS of Sint Maarteners that made a significant contribution to this island.
In a quiet arcade, off the extreme east end of Philipsburg`s Frontstreet, an Amerindian pirogue marks the entrance of the Sint Maarten Museum. The museum depicts St.Maarten`s history in several exhibits starting with:
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A PHOTO DISPLAY of island life 50 to 70 years ago, historical buildings and sites, and PORTRAITS of Sint Maarteners that made a significant contribution to this island. |
| ARTIFACTS OF ARAWAKS displaying archaeological finds dating from 500 - 600 A.D.. Among these objects you find tools, zemis, pottery fragments and shells. The Arawaks were Amerindians who originated from the Orinoco basin in Venezuela , and who roamed through the islands in their canoes called "pirogues" See an example at the entrance of the museum. |
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FORT AMSTERDAM was built by the first Dutch settlers in 1631. The island was important to them because of the huge quantities of salt found in the salt ponds. |
In the years thereafter, Spanish ,English and Dutch battled for ownership of the island, leaving behind weapons, utensils, artifacts and other interesting objects, excavated from the Fort Amsterdam site and now shown in the museum.
