The Museum House in Thio
The Thio Mining Museum, which opened in 1993, is housed in an old colonial-style mansion that once belonged to the corporation SLN (Société Le Nickel), where its local director lived. The museum was temporarily relocated to new premises in 2010 due to serious structural degradation. In 2015, however, the historic museum returned to its original location — which is also historic!
Nothing is more straightforward than locating the village museum. At the entryway, there is an ancient steam locomotive. There are images depicting the municipality as it was at the turn of the twentieth century in the four halls of the permanent exhibition, as well as a collection of historic tools and a mineral collection. From a broad perspective, the exhibition is organized around three major themes: the birth of the village, mining professions, and the mechanization era. The most enthusiastic visitors can purchase a piece of mineral and take a piece of green gold home with them!
Don't forget to elevate your eyes when you exit the museum. The pylons of the ancient overhead lift, which was in use from 1951 to 1974 and carried minerals over roughly 4 kilometers from the Le Plateau mine to the mineral port, can be seen above the structure. After seeing this one of the most beautiful historical sites in New Caledonia, you must visit the Le Plateau mine!
Location: Thio
