Angaur classroom transformed into museum to preserve island’s history

By: L. N. Reklai ANGAUR, Palau (Oct. 24, 2026) – “People, when they find artifacts such as World War II remnants or cultural artifacts, they usually take them, but now, with the museum, these items are brought to us,” said Angaur High School Principal Tiffany Kasiano. An unused classroom at Angaur Elementary School is being transformed into a museum where residents can bring historical artifacts, students can learn about their island’s past, and visitors can discover Angaur’s distinctive cultural heritage. The small museum already displays cases of World War II-era items, including an old short sword, glass bottles and ammunition parts. Other cases contain stone adzes dating to Angaur’s prehistoric period. Angaur artifacts from WWII at the new Angaur Museum housed in the Angaur Elementary School. October 24, 2026.

Island Times Kasiano envisions expanding the collection and organizing the space to tell the story of Angaur, from its traditional and cultural history to its prehistoric beginnings, phosphate mining and role in World War II. The project was made possible through Japan’s Grassroots Grant Program as part of the broader renovation and improvement of Angaur Elementary School. The room formerly served as the school library. When the Ministry of Education moved the library into classrooms, the space became available for another purpose. “When the Ministry of Education decided to bring the library into the classrooms, this became available and with support of Japan’s Grassroots Grant Program, we were able to renovate and change it into Angaur’s museum,” Kasiano said. The planned museum will be divided into three sections. One will focus on Angaur’s traditional and cultural history, another on its prehistory, and the third on its modern history, including phosphate…