Thomas A. Jaggar Museum

The Thomas A. Jaggar Museum is located at Crater Rim Drive in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii. The museum is about three miles from the Kilauea Visitor Center, which is a good place to start when entering the park for information and directions. The museum opens daily from 8.30am to 7.30pm.

Visitors to the museum can view exhibits about the history of the volcanoes and the Hawaiian legends that surround them. Other displays include some of the equipment used by scientists here before the site became a museum as well as seismographs still in working order. The highlight for many though is the view of the caldera and the main crater as the museum is actually built on the edge of Kilauea Caldera.

The daylight hours provide a good view of the caldera and Halema'uma'u steaming away. Some prefer to visit just after sunset when there is a chance to see the glow from deep in the crater, which reflects on the volcanic steam and gas being emitted. Visitors can take home souvenirs from the gift shop where volcano related items such as books, videos and CDs are on sale.