Maison James Norman Hall is a
historic house museum
A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that has been transformed into a museum. Historic furnishings may be displayed in a way that reflects their original placement and usage in a home. Historic house museums are held to a ...
in
Arue, French Polynesia. It exhibits the home of writer
James Norman Hall, as it was in 1951 at the time of his death. Its collection includes a 3,000-volume library and the author's typewriter.
History
The museum was the home of the writer
James Norman Hall, his Tahitian wife Sarah Teraureia Winchester, and their children''.''
Hall settled in
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austra ...
in 1924 and built the house himself in 1926,
where between 1932 and 1934, he co-wrote the three volumes of ''
The Bounty Trilogy.''
Whilst Hall died in 1951, his wife continued to live there until her death in 1985.
After 1985, the house then began to fall into disrepair and in 1991 it was purchased by the
government of French Polynesia.
Administration
On 20 July 1993, the house was declared a historical monument.
However, due to a lack of funds, the building continued to degrade. By the mid-1990s, the house was a ruin, however, Hall's daughter Nancy then worked with the French Polynesian government to restore the home to its 1951 condition.
It opened as a museum on 17 January 2002.
As of 2008, the museum was managed by the Association of the Friends of the James Norman Hall Home, who report both to the government of French Polynesia and to Hall's descendants.
Collection
The museum's collection includes Hall's 3,000-volume library, his typewriter and other objects.
The displays also include personal effects on loan from the Hall family.
"The house itself is neither large nor prepossessing; it was built for comfort and practicality," wrote author and screenwriter
Peter Benchley
Peter Bradford Benchley (May 8, 1940 – February 11, 2006) was an American author, screenwriter, and ocean activist. He is known for his bestselling novel '' Jaws'' and co-wrote its film adaptation with Carl Gottlieb. Several more of his works ...
. "It's what's inside the house that I found most fascinating: paintings, photographs, artefacts and anecdotes from Hall's preliterary life."
Public engagement
In 2018, the Minister of Tourism,
Nicole Bouteau
Nicole Bouteau (born 1969) is a French Polynesian politician. She is a member of the Assembly of French Polynesia and a former Minister of Tourism.
Education
Bouteau has a masters degree from the University of French Polynesia.
Political career ...
, alongside Nancy Rutgers-Hall, opened a new terraced area at the museum, which expanded its capacity for catering and conference provision. As of 2021, the museum provided personalised guided tours, where visitors could choose the aspects of the site they wanted to discover.
Legacy
Alongside the
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Samoa, the museum is considered an important site for European colonial heritage in the Pacific.
Gallery
File:Entrée musée James Norman Hall.jpg, Museum entrance
File:Bureau James Norman Hall.jpg, James Norman Hall's office
File:Salon musée James Norman Hall.jpg, Music room
File:Jardin James Norman Hall.jpg, House viewed from the garden
File:Véranda musée James Norman Hall.jpg, Veranda
References
External links
Tere, le musée James Norman Hall
{{Coord, -17.52523, -149.52058, format=dms, type:landmark_region:PF, display=title
Museums in French Polynesia
Buildings and structures in French Polynesia
Museums dedicated to James Norman Hall
Historic house museums