Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Frank A. Perret Museum, located in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, was founded in 1933 by American engineer and philanthropist Frank A. Perret. When Perret arrived in Martinique in 1929 when he resumed his activity on the Pelee mountain, he installed tools to analyse and monitor the volcano, while working to restore confidence to a population marked by the disaster of 1902. His museum project, inspired by Professor Lacroix's work, aims to study volcanology and preserve the memory of the devastating eruption. Funded by private donors and supported by the city of Saint-Pierre, the museum opens with an exhibition combining historical remains and scientific advances.

In 1969, the building, originally in Art Deco style, was renovated in a modernist spirit, with a redesigned façade and an interior space suitable for hosting groups. A new major renovation took place in 2018-2019, under the direction of architect Olivier Compère, integrating local materials such as wood treated according to the Japanese shu sugi ban technique and aggregates of the Pelee mountain. The museum, renamed "Memorial of the 1902 Disaster", adopts a cultural approach centered on the human experience of tragedy, while retaining its scientific vocation. He obtained the label Musée de France in 2004 and affirmed himself as a place of memory and international influence.

The museum's permanent collection bears witness to the eruptions of Pelee Mountain and the destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902. Designed for a diverse audience, the site combines historical information, ongoing scientific research and contemporary museography. Its sober architecture, marked by pure lines and raw materials, reinforces its role as a memorial. The planade and the fountain, renovated with elements from the volcano, symbolize the link between the tragic past and the resilience of the Martinic community. The museum thus contributes to the enhancement of a shared heritage, open to the world.

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