American University of Beirut (AUB)
The American University of Beirut (AUB) was founded in 1862 and opened in 1866 by American missionaries. It is one of the best universities in the Middle East. The beautiful campus is located along the north shore of Beirut’s peninsula. There are lots of trees and shrubs, and it has even been declared a bird sanctuary. A visitor’s center is located in the Main Gate House on Bliss Street. Here guests can learn about the university and join a guided walking tour of the campus.
There are three main attractions on campus that receive a steady stream of visitors. Assembly Hall was originally built in 1883 as a chapel. It eventually became an assembly hall and a venue for plays and musicals, thanks to great acoustics. The Nami Jefet Memorial Library was built in 1951. It contains more than 250,000 titles in almost a dozen languages. The Archives Department is a treasure trove of information about AUB and Lebanon.
The university’s archaeological museum, started back in the 1860s, has a small but excellent collection of antiquities from around the Middle East. Objects date from prehistoric times to the Ottoman Empire. Fort Hall, which resembles an old fort adorned with defensive towers, is a sutibale home for the museum’s classic sculpture, Islamic pottery, Iron Age figurines, and Stone Age tools.
There’s no shortage of things to do at AUB. You can stroll around the lush campus and bird watch. You can enjoy the Mediterranean Sea. You can learn about Lebanon’s history and Middle Eastern archaeology. No trip to Beirut is complete without a visit here.
Telephone: +961 1 350 000
Website: http://www.aub.edu.lb/
Hours: Museum open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 14:00-16:00
