Museum of Belize, National museum in Fort George district, Belize City, Belize.
The Museum of Belize occupies a brick building at Queen and Eve Streets that served as Her Majesty's Prison from 1854 to 1857 until 1993. Its galleries hold Maya artifacts spanning some 3,000 years, a timeline of slavery in Belize, colonial life displays and the history of the prison itself.
The structure was built between 1854 and 1857 during British colonial rule and initially served as a prison for about 135 years. Conversion to a museum began after the prison closed in 1993 and was completed in 2002.
The museum displays objects from 3000 years of Maya civilization and also presents the different ethnic communities of the country in its exhibitions. These collections tell the story of the diverse populations that have shaped Belize's history.
The building is open Tuesday through Saturday with parking available nearby in the Fort George district. Most visitors need about 2 to 3 hours to see all exhibits and explore the collections thoroughly.
The building preserves an original prison cell that visitors can see and that recalls its past as a correctional facility. This preserved space gives an unusual feel for how life was in that era.
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