The museum's director of development Jacqueline Horsfield this week told Hamilton Rotarians the museum played a key role not only in the preservation of local heritage, but also as an international centre of study.

The museum's mission was to preserve, study and present Bermuda's maritime sites, buildings, artifacts and cultural heritage for the education and enjoyment of residents and visitors, Ms Horsfield explained to Rotarians during their weekly luncheon at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

And she especially thanked Rotary members for their assistance in the refurbishment of a museum hostel.

Named after an international Rotary president, the Jack Davis Pavilion provides temporary housing for overseas college, graduate, post-graduate students and volunteers.

"Without their input, our Curatorial staff would be presented with a much bigger challenge in the maintenance of our collection and production of new exhibits,'' Ms Horsfield said.

"Bermuda has been further enriched by such high calibre international input, made possible by accommodation at the W. Jack Davis Pavilion.'' And she pointed out that the combination of local and overseas talent and expertise epitomised this year's Heritage Month theme of Heritage Through Diversity.

The pavilion is also used by various youth and church groups and will this year be used in the museum's first summer camp programme.

Over the past decade, the museum's capital campaign has raised more than $6 million to preserve the Island's heritage.

Various building projects have taken place, but Ms Horsfield said most of the funds have been used in the restoration of the Commissioner's House.

She promised that once completed, the Commissioner's House would also help to maintain local and international connections.

"It will succeed in passing our heritage from this generation to that of our children's children,'' said Ms Horsfield.

MUSEUM MUS