By Ghada Habib
KUWAIT, April 29 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah inaugurated on Monday Al-Salam Palace Museum, which portrays Kuwait's long history in a unique fashion, blending past, present, and future.
Al-Salam Palace, formerly known as Al-Dheyafa Palace, was originally established as an idea envisioned by the late Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah in the late 1950s, when he aspired to build a special mansion for him and his family.
To achieve that, the late Father Amir headed to Egypt to search for a specialized architect who could turn his vision of the mansion into reality. He eventually commissioned architect Medhat Al-Abed, who designed a round-shaped palace with magnificent interior decorations, making it most luxurious building in Kuwait and Gulf countries at the time.
In 1960, during the reign of late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, construction works began for the palace's basic structure. However, in 1961 and after the official declaration of country's independence, some changes were made on the palace's residential plans due to the urgent need at that time for an official guesthouse for Kuwait's top visitors, including kings, presidents, and other prominent figures, in addition to a place to hold official and international conferences and meetings.
Thus, the government decided to complete constructions for the spectacular building and transfer its ownership officially to the state. The palace was officially inaugurated in 1964, and received its first world leader guest in that same year.
Around 166 world leaders have stayed at Al-Dheyafa Palace since its official opening, including Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who visited Kuwait and stayed as a guest at the palace in 1968.
The palace, which total costs estimated nearly KD five million, equaling USD 16.5 million, was characterized by its beautiful and luxurious facilities. Its fancy exterior round-shaped design reflected on its interior design, with its crystal chandeliers' lights visible through its windows, illuminating its superb vicinity at Shuwaikh beach for passersby to enjoy.
Al-Dheyafa Palace continued to receive Kuwait's guests until 1990, when Iraq invaded the country, destroyed the palace and stole its contents. Afterwards, the palace faded into oblivion after the country's liberation in 1991, especially after handing over its role and missions to the newly-built Bayan Palace to host the country's guests.
The palace stayed abandoned and neglected until 2013, when Sheikha Mona Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Head of Historic Documentation Center and the Amiri Diwan Libraries, proposed to restore the historic guesthouse and turn it into a museum that combines various time phases from the 300-year history of Kuwait.
Sheikha Mona's proposal received approval and encouragement by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, prompting the Amiri Diwan to carry out reconstruction of the palace until it was finally completed and official inaugurated by His Highness the Amir today.
The newly-restored building houses a collection of rare artifacts and preserve the national cultural heritage of Kuwait. It has been designed to suit the modern generation provided with the latest technological display methods to presents the history of Kuwait to visitors in a creative and innovative manner.
It consists of four floors; basement, ground, first, and second. The basement includes an electronic library connected to the Central Library of the Amiri Diwan, as well as areas dedicated to scientific research and staff offices, storage and service rooms.
The ground floor includes exhibition halls for the "History of the Palace" that reflects the original construction of the Palace, as well as dignitaries who visited and stayed in it.
The first floor contains the museum displaying the history of Kuwait through its rulers. It includes nine halls that tell the history of Kuwait since its establishment, with most important achievements made during the history of the 15 rulers of the country, with a display of their collectibles and personal items.
The Palace is divided into three main sections; the Museum of Kuwait History through its rulers, the Peace Palace History Museum, and the Museum of Civilizations that inhabited the land of Kuwait.
Furthermore, there are other sections to serve the Museum, including a special suite to receive senior guests of the state, a digital library, a souvenir gift shop, educational halls for school students, and a multi-story parking lot. (end) gh.aab.ma