The St. Maarten Museum on Front Street in Philipsburg

One of Philipsburg’s surprises is the St. Maarten Museum in a shaded alley leading to the Ocean Walk on the east end of Front Street. Walking in through the Museum Shop on the ground floor, one has no idea of all the museum space above when you reach the top of the stairs. Here can be found a colorful panorama of St. Maarten’s culture and history. The artifacts and displays form a fascinating mosaic of the island’s eventful past from the early Amerindians and Peter Stuyvesant’s clash with the Spanish to the days of slaves and planters.

The museum is free but donations are welcome as it is operated by the St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to save and restore historical buildings and sites and contribute to the island’s natural environment so do stop at the museum shop during your visit to browse through all its locally made arts and crafts and its handmade jewelry and souvenirs as all the proceeds go to the Foundation.