MUSEUM TO REOPEN
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from May 1975.
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Mr. Ira Thompson, the Caymanian naturalist and antique collector, is planning shortly to reopen his Kiemanos Museum out on Crewe Road, near George Town's airport. But Mr. Thompson, who is 70, hopes the Government will reopen negotiations with him for the purchase of the museum, which contains a unique collection of 1,136 Caymanian, Caribbean, and Central American antiques.
The collection could form the basis of a National Museum. Comprising everything from old pirate swords and muskets to antique typewriters and wood-carvings, Mr. Thompson's exhibits almost certainly represent the world's most comprehensive collection of "Caymania."
Mr. Thompson feels that as a National Museum his collection would be a tourist attraction, particularly as it could be combined with a zoo. At present, his antiques are housed in a building in his garden. There he also maintains a private zoo containing animals ranging from macaws and doves to rabbits and iguanas.
The reptiles alone could be a "tourist draw" in a public zoo as the Caymanian iguanas in question are not only spectacular in appearance: they are also among the world's most rarely seen zoo-animals. Overseas zoologists and collectors have long expressed interest in Mr. Thompson's animals.
INTERBANK
He hopes to interest the Government in purchasing his museum - and possibly his zoo as well. However, if the authorities are not interested, Mr. Thompson intends to reopen his museum-zoo to the public as a private concern.
In 1973 the country had a chance to acquire Mr. Thompson's museum when he offered it for sale, giving the Government first choice. However, a price could not be agreed and the deal was never clinched.
Then Interbank purchased the museum with a view to re-siting it at Governor's Harbour. This plan fell through when the bank failed.
Visitors to the museum, when it reopens, will be able to inspect a collector's inventory that includes cannon balls, old stamps and coins, stuffed alligators, and the shells of some of the largest turtles caught in Caribbean waters. Outside in the zoo they will be able to view a dragon of an iguana that Mr. Thompson has had in captivity for 23 years. If they are lucky, they may also be able to see a nesting iguana, for Mr. Thompson is one of the very few people who has succeeded in breeding these Caymanian reptiles in captivity.
IGUANAS
His success in hatching them out may prove valuable to future generations of scientists interested in preserving Cayman's iguanas from extinction. With the rapid development of recent years the reptiles have been forced to retreat into the more inaccessible areas of Grand Cayman.
Their future is threatened not only by man and his destruction. of the habitat but also by wild cats watch prey on the young lizard.
Mr. Thompson feels that in the long term it may be necessary to establish a breeding colony of the animals in a zoo to prevent their becoming extinct.
