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Auckland War Memorial Museum was established in 1852, the present heritage building in the Domain being opened in 1929. It was extended in the 1960s, when an administration annex with a large semi-circular courtyard was added at the southern rear. As of late 2006, Auckland War Memorial Museum is in the final stages of another major overhaul, which first saw the existing building restored and exhibits partly replaced during the 1990s for $NZ 43 million. The second stage of this restoration has seen a great dome / atrium constructed within the central courtyard, for a price of $NZ 64.5 million. Features of Auckland War Memorial Museum The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important national museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, as well as military history. It is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the classicist style, and sitting on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland CBD. The features of the Auckland War Memorial Museum include: - The museum tells the story of New Zealand, from the unique flora and fauna and the history at war, to our priceless collection of Maori and Pacific treasures. - The Museum's galleries showcase the natural, cultural, and social history of New Zealand. - For kids, two award-winning Discovery Centers provide hands-on fun and exploration of the natural world and human culture. - Housed in one of the nation's finest heritage buildings and with spectacular views of Auckland City and the harbor, Auckland Museum is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. - Parts of Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Cenotaph and its surrounding consecrated grounds (Court of Honor) in front of the Museum serve as a war memorial, mainly to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. - There are two 'Halls of Memory' within the museum, whose walls, together with a number of additional marble slabs, list the names of all known New Zealand soldiers killed in major conflicts during the 20th Century.
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