Approximately 4,000 individuals attended the Open Day at the National Archives of Malta today, where admission was free.
The National Archives of Malta boast a 500-year history. Within its holdings are thousands of maps and over a million photographs documenting our country’s history, alongside a collection spanning 23 kilometres of shelving. These encompass files of documents, letters, handwritten volumes, cuttings, portraits, maps, architectural drawings, oral history recordings, microfilms, floppy disks, CDs, videos, DVDs, and a variety of other objects.
The National Archives of Malta serve to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese people by maintaining a substantial number of records detailing Malta’s history and the lives of its people, and also facilitate access for research purposes.
The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, also attended the Open Day, where he interacted with several attending families.
During the event, the public had the opportunity to view and obtain a copy of a previously unseen portrait depicting Malta’s railway, and informational sessions were conducted to explain the significance of this portrait and its reflection of various aspects of life in Malta over 120 years ago. Additionally, a performance by local artists took place in the Archives’ courtyard. Visitors were also encouraged to register for their own research endeavours.
#MaltaDaily