Rockefeller Archeological Museum

Located near Herod's Gate, and named for John D. Rockefeller, who financed its construction with a gift of $2 million in 1927, the Rockefeller is a treasury of regional archaeological objects ranging from the Stone Age to the 18th century. Among the Rockefeller's highlights are the original bas-relief stonework that once adorned the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the 9th-century carved wooden panels and ceiling beams of the Al Aqsa Mosque; and richly ornamented early Islamic architectural details from the 8th-century Hisham's Palace near Jericho.

Much of the collection was excavated in Ashkelon, Acre, and Galilee by American and English archaeologists during the first half of the 20th century. Pottery, tools, and household effects are arranged by periods -- Iron Age, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine. There is also a special gallery of Egyptian antiquities; in the south gallery's Paleolithic section are the bones of Mount Carmel Man.

The museum's eclectic 1930s design is a Jerusalem landmark that combines elements of Byzantine, Islamic, and Art Deco, and includes a beautiful, recently renovated cloister garden set around a reflecting pool. The building was damaged during the Six-Day War, but the museum's displays were barely affected. Luckily, there was no damage at all to the many Dead Sea Scrolls, at that time kept for study in the museum, which was in the area of Jerusalem under Jordanian control. The Rockefeller is now a branch of the Israel Museum. At press time the museum was closed for renovation through 2010, so check before you go.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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