Sherilyne Jones - Director, Museum of Belize & Houses of Culture
"As we celebrate our 14th anniversary it's important that we invite these kids because the museum has to remain relevant and engaging and also create unique visitor experiences. So while we are celebrating 14th and like you said we normally have an open day where we invite our kids. We give them activities tied into the exhibitions and displays that they see. And we will also be showing them images of our history throughout the 14 years where we were to where we've come. I hope that when leave here they remember something important, something historical, something cultural that really resonates with them even if it's the insects if they saw something cool and then they can take that to their families and say I went to the Museum of Belize today and I saw something cool. For museums to survive in our society we have to be engaging. We have to be innovative especially with the onslaught of social media. So how do we incorporate social media, innovative ways to get and engage our visitors?"

Courtney Weatherburne
"So this is the first time you are coming to the museum?"

Sheniya Barrow - Bethel Primary School
"Yes ma'am"

Courtney Weatherburne
"So what did you think so far?"

Sheniya Barrow - Bethel Primary School
"It's really awesome."

Courtney Weatherburne
"What's pretty awesome about it?"

Sheniya Barrow - Bethel Primary School
"Back in the old days."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Are you surprised how Belizeans lived in the old days? It's very different from now right?"

Sheniya Barrow - Bethel Primary School
"Yes ma'am"

Courtney Weatherburne
"What else are you looking forward on this tour? What else do you want to learn?"

Sheniya Barrow - Bethel Primary School
"More about how the prisoners used to stay in the cell."

Moises Gean Michel - Bethel Primary School
"I learned about how the people went to jail and they were beaten and sleep on the ground in the cell."

On the topic of visitors, the kids are getting the most out these tours but what about the adults? Are Belizeans actually taking time out to go to the museum? Museum Director Sherilyne Jones reflected on the last 5 years and told us there is an imbalance between the number of Belizeans and the number of tourists who visit the museum. Jones told us what they are doing to address this.

Sherilyne Jones - Director, Museum of Belize & Houses of Culture
"A number of people don't realize the vast of information that's included in this building. The fact that we are in a historical prison that was once a prison for the country. That itself tells a story and so the idea is just to get people aware that we exist, aware of the educational programs and displays that we have here and just really to increase our membership and our visitation throughout the year with Belizeans. In terms of visitation within the past 5 yrs. we have increased. In 2010 our average visitation was about 9,000 we are about 14 -15,000 now. There is a discrepancy between the foreign and the local that is why we have free Saturdays for Belizeans. That was something that was important for us here at NICH to give Belizeans that opportunity to come in the museum. It's a Saturday, it's free, take your time bring your kids, bring your grandparents and reminisce - walkthrough old Belize."

Over 300 primary school students visited the museum today.