Intensified archeological activity in the Holy Land in the first decades of the
20th century prompted the need for a dignified venue
to store and exhibit the finds. American philanthropist,
John D. Rockefeller, donated $2 million for building,
equipping and maintaining a museum, and the British mandatory
government also provided a subsidy. Rockefeller
stipulated that the museum bearing his name be an archeological,
not a natural science museum, and that the museum’s
exhibits should shed light on the part played by the
peoples of the Holy Land in world history. The building
was to be located opposite the northeast corner of Jerusalem’s Old City walls. After 1948,
when the area came under Jordanian rule, the museum
was administered briefly by an international council,
but, recognizing its tremendous value, the Jordanian
government soon nationalized it. Since 1968, the Rockefeller
Museum has been an integral part of the Israel
Museum in Jerusalem.
History of the Rockefeller Musuem
In the twilight of the Ottoman
Empire, at the end of the nineteenth to the beginning
of the twentieth century, British, American, French, and German archaeological
expeditions began exploring the ancient sites of the Holy Land. Despite
the difficult conditions, poor roads, and the distance
from their homelands, these pioneers embarked on the
first excavations with great enthusiasm and energy.
In 1919, one year after the end of
the First World War, the British Mandate in Palestine
and Transjordan began. The British, with their renowned tradition of
excavating and handling archaeological finds, devoted
much effort to cultivating archaeology in the land and
in 1920 established the Mandatory Department of Antiquities.
The department was responsible for supervising all archaeological
activity in Palestine and for protecting the ancient
sites.
A few years later, in 1925, James Henry
Breasted, founder and director of the University of
Chicago's Oriental Institute, visited Palestine. Upon
arriving in Jerusalem he was surprised by the city's
lack of a proper archaeological museum. Encouraged by
Lord Plumer, the British High Commissioner, Breasted
approached American philanthropist John D. Rockefeller,
Jr. for a donation that would help realize the construction
of such a museum in Jerusalem. Rockefeller agreed to
contribute toward the project the sum of two million
dollars - at that time an astonishing amount. A short
while later, a site was chosen for the building - Kerem
el-Sheik - a hill located just outside the northeastern
corner of the Old City walls.
The design of the museum was assigned
to Austen St. Barbe Harrison, the chief architect of
the Mandatory Department of Public Works, who planned
a magnificent structure, integrating in it eastern and
western architectural elements. The cornerstone of the
new museum was laid on June 19, 1930. Although its official
name was "The Palestine Archaeological Museum,"
from the very outset, the building was most commonly
known as the "Rockefeller Museum" after its
benefactor's name. On January 13, 1938 the museum opened
its doors to the public.
In May 1948, shortly before the termination
of the British Mandate in Palestine, the High Commissioner
founded an international board of trustees, consisting
of twelve members representing scholarly institutions
around the world, to be responsible for the museum's
management. This board continued to function until 1966,
when the museum was nationalized by King
Hussein of Jordan. Just a few months later, at the
close of the Six
Day War in the summer of 1967, the Rockefeller Museum
was transferred to Israeli hands. The management of
the building and its contents was entrusted to two institutions:
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Israel Department
of Antiquities and Museums (later renamed Israel Antiquities
Authority). The former was put in charge of the exhibition
halls and the latter was given responsibility for the
remaining wings (storerooms, archive, library). In recent
years much effort has been devoted to updating existing
wall panels, to adding additional ones in English, Hebrew,
and Arabic, and to the preparation of temporary exhibitions
on a variety of topics.
Visitor Information
Opening Hours:
Sunday , Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
10 am - 3 pm
Saturday and Holidays 10 am - 2 pm
Tuesday, Friday - closed
Location:
The Rockefeller Museum
Sultan Suleman Street
East Jerusalem
(Near the Flower Gate)