Chaldean Center museum opens to public

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Hometown Life
FRM 2 chaldean museum
(Photo: Submitted)
What is the Chaldean Cultural Center Museum?
It’s a cultural center and museum where people can step into ancient Babylon and into an early Christian church. It’s a place where people can visit an Iraqi Chaldean village, then journey to America with pioneering immigrants. They can discover the diverse, dynamic lives of Chaldeans today.

The Chaldean Cultural Center Museum is the first of its kind in the world. It’s an educational resource that has been a decade in the making. The Chaldean Cultural Center Museum covers thousands of years of Chaldean history.

Starting Tuesday, May 2, it will be open three days a week: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Special arrangements can also be made for tour groups, school field trips, etc., who may want a specific day and time.

The Chaldean Cultural Center celebrates and explores the extraordinary history, arts, traditions and contributions of the Chaldean people from ancient times to the present, serving as a repository of collected history and stories. By forging relationships with other educational and cultural institutions, it not only nurtures pride within the Chaldean community, but also promotes greater understanding between communities as part of cultural diversity.

“We are a community with deep roots and a rich history,” said Francis Boji, chairman of the Chaldean Cultural Center board. “The museum starts out at 3,300 B.C.E. and it takes visitors through time periods and the progression of Chaldeans throughout history.”

The development of the Chaldean Cultural Center Museum has been a collaborative effort from people inside and outside the Chaldean community.

“There are five galleries in the museum and each had several curators to help design it,” said Mary Romaya, executive director. “Countless hours of work and dedication have gone into this project and we are thrilled to open the museum and invite others to enjoy it.”

Exhibit Designers Saylor+Sirola worked in collaboration with Sanan Media, which produced the interactive media and films in the center.

The center paints a portrait of a people, exploring the history that shaped them, the faith that sustains themand the lives they lead today. At its heart is an exhibition that takes visitors from the court of Nebuchadnezzar to an immigrant grocery store in Detroit and beyond.

To find out more, got to www.chaldeanculturalcenter.org

To view a three-minute promotional video, go to http://sanan.com/ccc.