Lyman Museum forges ties with Smithsonian

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The Lyman Museum will be able to tap into the extensive collections at the world-famous Smithsonian Institution after being named an affiliate of the national organization — only the second Hawai'i museum to receive the honor.

The Kona Historical Society in Captain Cook became the state's first Smithsonian affiliate in 1999.

The affiliate program allows organizations to draw from the Smithsonian's vast collection of objects and incorporate Smithsonian outreach services such as curriculum development, lectures, traveling exhibitions, workshops and study tours.

The Lyman Museum began as the Lyman Mission House, originally built for New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman in 1839. The museum was established in 1931 by their descendants, and is on the state and national registers of historic places.

The Lyman house was restored and provides visitors with a picture of early missionary life in Hawai'i. Next door, the Lyman Museum building houses a collection of Hawaiiana, artifacts, fine art and natural history specimens as well as archives and a library, special exhibitions and a gift shop.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was among the officials to speak at a ceremony yesterday on the museum's Haili Street grounds.

He said the Lyman Museum is one of only 109 museums out of 100,000 nationwide to gain Smithsonian affiliate status.

Richard Henderson, vice president of the museum board, said the ties with the Smithsonian, which do not include financial support, will give the Lyman Museum the ability "to access all exhibits and better tell the story of this island and its people."

Correction: Only 109 museums out of 100,000 museums in the United States have been named Smithsonian Institution affiliates. A story on a previous version of this story was wrong because of a reporter’s error.