Albert Lowe Museum & Artifact Restoration

Hello friends,

My family has fallen in love with a small island in the North Atlantic. It's called Green Turtle Cay and it's located in the Abacos which is part of The Bahamas. The only thing more beautiful than the palm trees, white sandy beaches, and translucent blue water is the people. The families that built Green Turtle Cay have an amazing story. From pirates to loggers, from turtle & shark fishermen to pineapple farmers, these hardy folks survived a couple of centuries by adapting to the world around them for survival. What they built was a community that is rich in history and this history is in danger of being lost.

The Albert Lowe Museum sustained substantial damage from Hurricane Dorian on September 1st, 2019. Some work has been done to secure the roof and porch, plus some repair to the interior of the home. Hundreds of historical artifacts, photos, paintings (many by museum owner and world-renowned artist, Alton Lowe) have been damaged, are in need of safe storage and restoration.

Now that much of the island is back under a roof, folks are getting regular meals, most have working electricity and water, it seems like we can turn some focus on saving the Albert Lowe Museum. This iconic building is itself a landmark, and provides a hub for the living history found throughout the settlement of New Plymouth and across the island.

If we don't move quickly, this history will be lost. We need to transfer artifacts to safe storage for evaluation and restoration. We need to repair the museum structure and grounds including the outdoor kitchen, one of the oldest buildings in the Abacos. Then we will be able to re-install all of the artifacts and continue sharing the rich history of Green Turtle Cay with not only visitors but the island's children, as well! We will also implement a new sustainable business plan to maintain the building and grounds.

Thank you!

Matthew and Shannon Matlack