The National Museum

The National Museum is a structure made up of steel and glass, and is a gift from China under a bilateral agreement, and was completed recently in 2010. The impressive part about this two floored building is the display of famous lacquer work boxes, age old cannons, broken pieces of Buddhist and Hindu idols, images of political events, and most importantly a replica of the pen that was used to sign the ‘Declaration of Independence’ from the British Empire. The tour begins downstairs with the galleries showcasing Maldivian history; they have items such as, weapons, religious items, and household items. The display on the second floor of the building is mostly from the modern period, and is a great eye opener to Maldivian history and culture. A particularly fascinating piece on display is the 6 m long skeleton of the Longman’s Beaked Whale, which is so rare that it is yet to be seen alive in the sea.