armenian library and museum of america (alma)

The Armenian Museum is a gem, fairly small but packed with ancient history, recent history, a look at a fascinating culture, and contemporary art. Not to be missed.It is also located in Watertown Square, packed w very good restaurant choices, the ethnic fruit and grocery stores, and a short drive to Harvard Square.

Unless you have Armenian ancestry or you have a great deal of curiosity, this museum may disappoint you. On my visit today, about 1/4 of the museum was closed for repairs. Because of that entry was at a reduced fee($3.50 per adult).On my visit, there was a special exhibition of Karsh photographs which alone made the trip worthwhile. The Canadian-Armenian Karsh captured portraits of some of the most celebrated personalities of the 20th century. If you don't know Karsh, you will instantly recognize his iconic photos of Hemingway, Einstein, Schweitzer, GB Shaw and others several of which graced covers of LIFE magazine. I think of Karsh as the Ansel Adams of portrait. That said, this is a distinguished but small exhibit.The museum is quite small. You will see larger collections of Armenian arts at the Met in NY and elsewhere. Nevertheless, it does an an adequate job of explaining the great yet tragic history of the Armenians including the Armenian genocide. There is a coin-pay parking lot immediately behind the museum for those of you driving. The museum is about 1 1/2 miles from the main shopping area for Armenian groceries, lahmejoun, bread, etc.

I was very happy, finally, to visit the Armenian Museum of America. The building is right in downtown Watertown with easy parking nearby. There you will find a most interesting collection of artifacts representing both Armenian history, and the history of the Armenian community in Watertown, which became a destination for Armenian refugees and immigrants from the Middle East. Currently, there is a spectacular exhibit of portrait photographs by Karsh, and in addition to a wide range of artifacts (including a bible that was passed down through centuries and rescued from destruction at the beginning of the last century), there is a permanent exhibit on the history of the people. The museum would also be of interest to those interested in Christian history. The library there is an open resource, and its catalogue is accessible online to examine prior to a visit.

This bite-size museum has something for every taste. The Karsh photographs alone are worth the trip. For those of Armenian descent, this is a pilgrimage not to be missed. I learned a great deal about the Armenian genocide from the curators, but was not overwhelmed, but rather, impressed by the indomitable spirit of the people. Beautiful exhibits of Armenian rugs, embroidery, costumes, musical instruments, and other arts made it a delight for the eyes.

We spent over 2 hours there on a Friday afternoon. The Karsh photos were super but our real reason for being there was to see the Armenian exhibits as both my fathers parents emigrated from Armenia in the late 1890's. They got out before the large genocides at the hands of the Turks. The museum has a lot of old exhibits that I didn't even know still existed. How some of them managed to escape the ravages of the Turks is hard to understand. We would have stayed longer but were on a little bit of a tight schedule. We will have to go back the next time we are in the Boston area.

I came to see the Karsh photo portraits; I left knowing much more about Armenia and its people and history. The Karsh photography is easy to like. He photographed many famous faces of the mid-20th century: Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, Georgia O'Keeffe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others. I found myself looking at their poses, their hands, and how he must have directed them. Martha Graham pressing a hand to her chest, elbow twisted up high. Dr. King looking high over his shoulder, up into the light. A long exhibit hall tells the history of Armenia. Fascinating artifacts are on display nearby, from religious objects to weapons to textiles to rugs to books, including a copy of the second book ever printed in the Armenian language, from 1512.Upstairs is a very sad exhibit about the Armenian genocide of 1915. You just shake your head, speechless. The victors may try to write the history books, but the Armenians have their chapter and their voice here.Also upstairs is an exhibit on the history of the printed book in Armenia, and several examples of traditional dress and jewelry. More art is on display on another upstairs floor where the offices are; take an elevator or the stairs located to the right of the main desk.One last unexpected treat from this compelling museum: look for the original 1970s Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) fashion dolls for sale in the gift shop.

I went on a Saturday afternoon. The museum is 2 floors of some old bank building. But on the inside there are LOTS of artifacts and posters that show the entire history of the Armenian people, dating to 1500 years before Jesus was born! Artifacts include ancient bronze coins, old instruments, ancient, medieval, and modern texts, and some stuff from the Armenia Genocide, which is featured on the 2nd floor. Expect to take about 2 hours to see everything properly. It's also cheap ($3 admission for students, $7 for adults, kids and seniors are free). As a non-Armenian, I was fascinated to learn more about this long-standing culture that has suffered greatly at the hands of Persians, Romans, and Turks. This is off the beaten path, but Watertown has the largest Armenian community in America. If you are local, or visiting, get in a car and find it!

The museum is great place to learn about the Armenian heritage: ancient artifacts, rare manuscripts, rugs, textiles, paintings, and musical instruments. I didn't think that I will end up spending 2-3 hours at the museum: well I thought I was going to a small ethnic museum. What happened was I was waiting for my reservation at a restaurant next door, and decided to check out the museum. Well, 20 minutes wasn't enough, so I came back next Sunday to check the place out. I've heard that Armenians have a rich culture, but I had no idea that there's a huge museum like this in the Boston area. Other than the museum there's a modern art gallery on the 3rd floor - don't forget to check it out. And yeah, the gift shop is cool too: great prices. Overall, the museum visit was very pleasant, and only $5 for admission. Pretty cool, don't you think? Highly recommended. Yeah, by the way, the museum hours have changed. It's now Thu, 6-9pm, Fri-Sun, 1-5pm.