The first iteration of the Lidorkini Museum opened in June 1976, under its former name, Ponape Museum.[1] It closed several years later due to two factors: lack of support from the state and an additional challenge in that local communities did not see the museum as relevant to their lives.[2] The museum and its collections also suffered flood damage. By 1988 the collections were moved into storage by
Russel Brulotte, to a building owned by the Department of Lands.[3]
The museum re-opened in June 1992.[4] It was established by
Pensile Lawrence.[5][6] In 1994 the museum transferred from the Department of Land of the FSM, to the Department of Education.[7] The curator at this time was
Yasuo I. Yamada.[7] The museum was close to the Pohnpei Tax and Revenue Office, the Department of Education and
Spanish Wall Park.[8] The museum closed in 2012.[9]
Collection
The museum collection included cultural objects, such as adzes and shell pounders, as well as archaeological artefacts such as pottery sherds and beads from the site of
Nan Madol.[10] The collection also included Second World War material, including a Japanese tank, as well as engineering braces from the German Bell Tower.[11]