Museum of Belize

Belize City, Belize

---

Museum of Belize in Belize City occupies the historic Her Majesty's Prison, a colonial-era structure built in 1854 and used until 1993, transformed into a cultural institution in 2002 by the National Institute of Culture and History to showcase the nation's multifaceted heritage.

Exhibits span ancient Maya artifacts like jade jewelry and pottery from sites such as Altun Ha, the painful history of slavery in "Belize enSLAVEd," colonial relics including stamps and antiques, and rotating displays of contemporary Belizean art by artists like Pen Cayetano.

Interactive features include 3D-scanned Maya objects and prison cells preserved as they were, offering insights into incarceration, while free entry for Belizeans on Saturdays draws locals to explore Creole, Garifuna, and Maya contributions in a compact two-floor space blending education and community programs.​