Like WAPA, the Guam Museum's building was decimated as a result of Supertyphoon Pongsona. Since December the Guam Museum, like WAPA, has also been trying to think of innovative ways to provide interpretational, educational, and culturally informative services to Guam residents, WWII veterans, the visiting and transient military community, and the ever-present tourist population.
Not afraid to approach and explore unconventional avenues, the Guam Museum identified an exhibit space and began working to making it a high-quality and professional museum venue. The Guam Museum, under the direction of Museum Director Tony Palomo and Director of the Department of Chamorro Affairs, JLawerance Cruz, has successfully, but temporarily, reestablished itself as a museum facility at the Guam Premier Shopping Outlets. The Guam Museum has tastefully used their artifacts and well written text to explain the diverse and rich history of Guam to all who are interested. Banners hanging from the ceiling depicting the historical eras, a collection of prehistoric sling stones, a bell from the USS Guam, light fixtures recovered from the WWI German Cormoran which still rests in Apra Harbor, and photos and stories which pertain to Yokoi, a Japanese straggler who hid and survived on Guam for 28 years following the war, are just some of the rich and interesting topics that the museum elegantly interprets.
The Guam Museum is able to occupy the store space in the mall free of charge. This space was generously donated by the manager of the Guam Premier Outlets who clearly saw the importance of having a museum exhibit available to the residents and tourists of Guam. WAPA congratulates the Guam Museum for their innovative vision and commends them for taking a store space in a shopping mall and transforming it into a truly beautiful, professional, and wonderful museum space. Tony Palomo and JLawerance Cruz did a fine job of bringing this vision to fruition and WAPA commends them for their efforts and accomplishments. WAPA looks forward to also using non-traditional methods and venues to bring their resources to the people of Guam and to people from around the world. In addition to being excited about trying to reestablish ourselves, we are also interested in seeing partnerships and relationships established, fostered, and cultivated so that we can preserve, protect, and share our resources with as large of audience as possible.
