Origins of the Jean P. Haydon Museum

The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture and Humanities has a special exhibition on display that focuses on American Samoa’s journey with the United States, called America 250. It also re-introduces people to the origins of the Jean P. Haydon Museum — when gifts given to Gov. John Haydon and First Lady Jean in 1969 were first displayed on the 1st floor of the Governor’s mansion, and opened to the public for tours, on January 7, 1970. The display was officially recognized by the Fono in 1971, as the ‘Museum of American Samoa’, and moved to the old naval commissary in 1973, after local funding plus a grant from the NEA made possible the acquisition and restoration of the building, where it is today. The official opening ceremony for the museum was held on Flag Day, April 17, 1973. It was renamed the Jean P. Hayden Museum in 1974, when the Fono approved a referendum, at the end Gov. Haydon’s appointment. [Courtesy photo] Section: Local News Tags: Jean P. Haydon Museum
2026-07-15 16:53:07