The U.S. Consulate General Curaçao commemorated the 65th Anniversary of the Roosevelt
House on Friday, March 13, 2015. In honor of this milestone, U.S. Consul General James
Moore opened an eight-panel exhibit featuring photos and the history of the longstanding
diplomatic relationship between the Dutch Caribbean and the United States. The exhibit was
developed in partnership with the Curaçao Maritime Museum and the National Archives
Curaçao.
In honor of this occasion, U.S. Consul General welcomed Curaçao Governor Lucille GeorgeWout
and Prime Minister Ivar Asjes as well as other dignitaries to view the exhibit. At the
unveiling, Consul General Moore said:
“From a centuries-old trading relationship, the ties between the United States and the Dutch
Caribbean have endured, evolved, and kept pace with the times. It is a shared history and rich
heritage in which we can all take pride, as this exhibition depicts. I would like to extend our
deepest appreciation to the Curaçao Maritime Museum and to the National Archives Curaçao
for their generous support that made this exhibition possible.”
The 65th Anniversary of the Roosevelt House also coincided with the visit of U.S. Ambassador
to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Timothy Broas, to the Dutch Caribbean. Ambassador
Broas said in his remarks:
“I am honored to be here to join you in commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Roosevelt
House, which is a fitting symbol of the perpetual friendship between the United States and the
Kingdom of the Netherlands.”
On October 31, 1945, the Netherlands and Curaçao officially bestowed the gift of the
Roosevelt House and the property on which it stands to the United States, and President
Truman accepted the offer on April 13, 1946. Named after the visionary leader of the Allied
Forces and a U.S. President with Dutch roots, the property was named “Roosevelt House.”
The official ceremony took place on March 15, 1950. The gift, in recognition of American
protection of the islands during World War II, was an initiative from and funded by the people
of Curaçao through the “Staten.”Sixty-five years later the world has changed dramatically, but the friendship between the U.S.
and the Dutch Caribbean remains steadfast. The Roosevelt House continues to be a symbol
of both the United States and Curaçao’s history and heritage. It represents a significant
moment in the history of both the United States and Curaçao. And most importantly, it will
remain a symbol of cooperation, friendship, and gratitude for many years to come.
The exhibition will have a permanent home in the Curaçao Maritime Museum where the public
can experience the history of the unique friendship between the U.S. and the Dutch Caribbean
islands.
