Talk Story with an Advertiser: Lyman Museum and Mission House

The Lyman Museum led by Barbara Moir, Executive Director, and Richard Henderson, Board Chairman, is one of only four nationally accredited museums in the State of Hawai‘i and a Smithsonian Affiliate.

This year marks the 180th anniversary of the arrival of David and Sarah Lyman in Hilo. They were New England missionaries with a lifelong commitment to education. The Lyman Mission House was built for them in 1839. The museum, established in 1931 by Lyman descendants, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2012.

The mission of the museum is “to tell the story of Hawai‘i, its islands, and its people” to all demographics. It hosts educational and public programs for visitors and kama‘aina alike.

Daily guided tours of the historic Mission House provide a unique portrait of missionary life in the 19th century.

Two permanent exhibits—the Earth Heritage Gallery and Island Heritage Gallery—both give a comprehensive natural and cultural history of Hawai‘i. Special exhibits are rotated to keep visitors coming back for more.

The Lyman Museum Archives, open by appointment only, include centuries-old documents, books, maps, ephemera, and photographic collections specific to Hawai‘i Island.

The small staff juggles multiple responsibilities, from giving tours and preserving artifacts to mounting exhibits, organizing public programs, and planning fundraising events. An exciting challenge they face today is updating the exhibits to accommodate Hawai’i’s vast history and ever-evolving culture.

The museum is in constant need of both the helpful hands of volunteers to assist with the public programs, archival research, and museum operations and the generous gifts of donors to keep the museum exciting and educational for generations to come.

Annual memberships include free and unlimited museum entry and other “Members-Only” benefits.

One block mauka (uphill) from Haili Church
276 Haili Street, Hilo
808-935-5021
info@lymanmuseum.org
LymanMuseum.org