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A Project with a Vision
Many developed countries have a grand museum that identifies them. These institutions are depositories of the cultural wealth and the historical memory of its peoples. Among others, the reason for their existence is to make the citizens of a nation proud and to give them a sense of belonging and identity when their cultural wealth is displayed in an exceptional way. In addition, these museums are responsible for identifying, documenting, protecting, and studying the cultural heritage of their country.
Guatemala, the heart of the Mayan world and seat of the government during colonial times, is a country rich in multicultural history. Therefore, a museum that holds the main objects of its historical legacy is of the utmost importance. A world-class institution ─managed under strict administrative rules governing international museums─ will be responsible for protecting this heritage, its cataloging, and making it available to scholars and the public at large, by exhibiting its collection, showing itinerant collections and library.
The museum, built with an exceptional architecture, located in an easily accessible place for all of the population, will be a worldwide tourist attraction, capable of significantly increasing the traffic of visitors to the country. Also, the museum may become a weekend destination for the Guatemalan population. An institution of this sort provides an unequaled forum for the education of youths, both at the grade school and high school levels, as well as for higher education.
Archaeological art is a window to the history of peoples, and is at the same time a prophecy for the future of society. The museum is the ideal vehicle for transmitting the ideas and creativity of individuals from one generation to another, and builds the proud sense of belonging for a people and their past.
The target is to begin the operation of the museum on December 21st, 2012. This is a significant date because the long count of the Mayan calendar will again fall on the date 13.0.0.0.0 which commemorates the day of creation or zero Mayan year (at the time it was day 4 Ahaw 8 Kumk’u or August 13, 3114 b.C. in the Gregorian calendar). Like a clock, after midnight, a new cycle will begin on the13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahaw 3 K’ank’in, that corresponds to December 21, 2012, With an optimistic vision of the future, we could say that it is the start of a new Mayan “millennium”, honoring the historical legacy of the pre-Hispanic culture of the country.
This Project will contribute to revitalize the City of Guatemala as part of the Metropolitan Park in the immediate neighborhood of La Aurora International Airport. Its architectural looks within the park must make it a symbol of the city and of the country. It is necessary to identify a specific location. This is a must in order to begin the studies (topography, surroundings and soils) and launch the contest for the design with the best architectural firms of the world.
The Mayan Museum of America will be a joint effort of the Guatemalan Government, the Municipality of the capital city, private companies, NGOs and the civil society. La Ruta Maya (The Mayan Route) will be the entity responsible for the coordination and direction of the Project. |
