The Hermanas Mirabal Museum
10-7-10
Recently I finished reading a book by dominican author Julia Alvarez, called "In the Time of the Butterflies." The book is a romance of the story of the Hermanas Mirabal, 4 sisters from the dominican republic who fought against the dictator Trujillo in the 50's-60's. Trujillo was a dictator of the DR ruling for 30 years until he was assassinated. He basically did a lot of good things for the country (allowed women to vote, cleaned up the streets, created order) but also a lot of bad things (killed hundreds of haitians, spread fear amongst the country for those who disobeyed him, raped hundreds of girls as young as 14). Since living here I have been increasingly interested in the history of this country so reading this book sparked more interest in the heroic sisters. There was also a film that just came out starring Michelle Rodriguez called "Tropico de Sangre" about the sisters which was based on Julia Alvarez's book. I wasn't so impressed with the film but it still hasn't taken away my interest from the story.
Apparently Las Lagunas is about 20 miles away from the home of these sisters which today is a memorial museum honoring the sisters. I was ecstatic to find time to make my way over there when one of my students Arleny (bless her heart) volunteered to take me to the museum with her dad. Sweet!
You can imagine how excited I was to do something different and get a free car ride. Arleny and her father were so nice when we got to the museum they refused to let me pay the donation admission and even bought me a hat and keychain souvenir. Dominicans aren't easy.
The museum was pretty much amazing. Not so much because it had all of the sisters beautiful 50's clothing, jewelry, furnishings and kitchenware still intact but because seeing the gorgeous wooden house they lived in still standing was so cool I seriously just wanted to move in. My first impression was that the Mirabal family were rich because the house was so grandiose it really is a mansion in these days so I can only imagine their status in the 50's. Apart from the gorgeous house, the museum had huge beautiful yards with gardens and flowers and statues filled with artistic butterflies symbolizing their underground names during the revolution, "mariposas."
I really don't consider myself an expert on the story and am still searching for more books on the subject but being able to see their house and the museum was really a nice treat. I hope to return soon.
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