Sights in Apia

Western Samoa museums and landmarks offer the visitor a nice insight into the background of this island nation and its struggles for freedom throughout its history. Though museums are not plentiful here, visitors can learn about this area justly from those that do exist, as well as pick up some of the oral history of the area through walking and touring the city.

Museums in Western Samoa

The small Museum of Samoa is situated in the capital Apia's colonial-era courthouse on Ifi'ifi Street. A small but thorough set of displays highlights the culture and history of the country.

While there are not a lot of traditional museums in Western Samoa, walking through the streets can practically give the visitor the same stroll through history and culture as visiting a number of museums would. The streets are filled with both monuments bearing witness to the colonization of area, as well as ancient burial spots of Samoan chiefs.

On the Mulinu'u peninsula is a German monument serving as a memorial to the country's shops lost in an 1889 hurricane. Further down the street, there is another German monument dedicated to the German's first raising the flag on that land in 1900.   

Robert Louis Stevenson's home has also been converted into a musuem chronicling his life's work and passion. The estate, located in Vailima, was his former home until the end of his life and visitors can also enjoy a hike to see his grave, though the walk is rather steep.

Learn about Western Samoa's culture and past by visiting one or more of these museums while on your trip and you will be glad you did.