National Archaeological Museum Aruba

The National Archaeological Museum Aruba (Museo Arqueologico Nacional Aruba, MANA or NAMA) tells the story of the island's Indigenous peoples, with collections spanning roughly 2500 BCE to the 19th century. It occupies the restored Ecury family complex on Schelpstraat in downtown Oranjestad, a short walk from the cruise terminal. It is the place to understand who made the rock art you see at Fontein Cave and Ayo.

What will you see in the museum?

The exhibition is thematic and self-guided, with audio-visual displays and hands-on elements, and temporary exhibitions that change during the year. Artefacts from the pre-ceramic period of around 2500 BCE onwards are on display, along with material from later Amerindian cultures. The Aruba Tourism Authority also mentions a film on ancient Amerindian life produced with the Field Museum in Chicago and works by contemporary island artists on historical themes. Gardens around the buildings offer a quiet break.

What is the history of the building?

The museum first opened in 1981 as the Archaeological Museum of Aruba and reopened in 2009 in its current home as the National Archaeological Museum. The complex combines two eras: the oldest part is a cunucu (country) house built in 1870 by the grandparents of Boy Ecury, the young Aruban hero of the Second World War, who lived there from 1922 to 1937; the larger mansion dates from 1929. You can still see the cistern the family used to store rainwater collected from the roof.

When is the museum open?

According to the museum's own website (checked October 2026): Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00; closed Saturday and Sunday. On the national holidays of 25 January and 18 March it opens with adapted hours announced on its social media. Admission details are not listed on the website, so check at the desk or ask the museum in advance.

How long does a visit take?

The museum is compact; an unhurried visit fits easily into a morning in town. It pairs naturally with Fort Zoutman — the colonial story — a few streets away.

Good to know

• Address: Schelpstraat 42, Oranjestad.
• Getting there: the museum says it is close to the Arubus bus terminal opposite the cruise terminal, and the downtown tram passes the building complex.
• Families: the museum describes the exhibition as family-friendly, with hands-on activities for children.
• Combine it with an Oranjestad walking tour.