Madang Museum

In 1975 the suggestion arose that a local museum should be created in Madang, an idea that was supported by the government of the province, expatriates, and local tourist businesses.^{[citation needed]} The museum opened on 6 June 1981. It was opened by Kaki Angi, then Minister for Tourism for the province.^[1] The museum shares a building with the Madang Visitors and Cultural Bureau.^[2] In 2015 the museum underwent a restoration programme, led by ethnographer and volunteer Mary Mennis. Madang Provincial Government covers wages and utility costs for the museum, but other funding comes from private donations.^[3]

The museum collection contains both ethnographic and natural science objects.^[1] One notable object is a head-dress from Bosmum village which was worn as part of a male initiation ritual.^[2] As of 2008 approximately half of the objects on display were from Madang and the rest from East Sepik Province.^[1] The museum was a partner in a research project which explored diet in the region over the last millennium through zooarchaeological analysis, as well as lipid analysis.^[4]