Historical Archive of Hydra Museum HYDRA Conference venues of the Historical Archives-Museum of Hydra INFO Where History resides… Walking along the streets of Hydra, among the well-preserved mansions of the island, the visitor wanders mentally in the years when sailors, merchants, captains, boatmen and landlords, who gave life to one of the largest merchant fleets of the Mediterranean, gathered in these same places. The political and war situation in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th century offered the opportunity to the skilled sailors of Hydra, who took advantage of the privileges and strategic position of the island, to get rich from maritime trade. Dozens of ships sailed daily from the port of the island to the biggest ports of Europe. Already from 1749 the "Merchant Marine Academy of Hydra" was operating in the school of Agios Vasilios, demonstrating the orientation of the island in trade and the need to equip the ships with trained crews. The School taught not only maritime theory and techniques but also foreign languages that would be necessary for communication with foreign authorities and merchants in the ports of call. However, the name of Hydra is linked to the Revolution of 1821. At the outbreak of the Revolution, the island had competent, experienced sailors and dozens of ships. Thanks to the fighting voice and the efforts of the heroic captain Antonis Economou, the people and the great boatmen and landlords of the island decided the participation of Hydra in the Revolution. During the years of the Struggle, the Hydrians offered money, ships and crews to the cause. The once merchant ships were equipped and together with Spetses and Psarra they formed the war fleet of the rebellious Greeks. Voulgaris, Topazis, Miaoulis, Kountouriotis have associated their names with the Revolution. At the entrance of the port of Hydra, the bronze statue of Andreas Miaoulis by the sculptor Kostas Kazakos, welcomes the visitors of the island. The blue revolutionary flag with the cross and the saying "Freedom or Death" and the cannons placed on the bastion remind the naval power of Hydra. The rich stone mansions that still stand in Hydra are witnesses of the wealth that the boatmen had in their hands during the 18th and 19th century. However, it is perhaps more moving to think that behind these walls there were debates, conflicts and decisions made that led to freedom. The Mansion of Lazaros Tsamados now houses the Merchant Marine School and the Mansion of Kriezis the Nursing Home. Since 1936, the four-storey Mansion of Tombazis has been home to the famous branch of the Athens School of Fine Arts, which has written its own history in Greek art. The House of Lazaros Kountouriotis operates as a branch of the National Historical Museum. The house where the Museum of Post-Byzantine Art and History of Hydra operates today belonged to his brother George Kountouriotis. The building that houses the Historical Archives-Museum of Hydra stands proudly among the mansions of the guards and shipowners of the 19th century. In this location, which dominates the entrance of the port, the first building of the Archives was built by the Hydra shipowner Gikas N. Koulouras with respect to the history, architecture and landscape of the island. In 1952 it passed to the Greek state after a donation by the shipowner, hosting their collection. Among the persons who played a key role in the operation of the Museum are also Antonios D. Lignos, doctor and Mayor of Hydra, who took care of the classification and transcription of the documents of the Archives of the Community of Hydra (1798 - 1865) and the Rev. The Bishop of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina, Mr. Ierotheos, who took care of the construction of the present building of the Archives on the site of the original one, which had been demolished for structural reasons. The Historical Archives Museum of Hydra maintains a section with works of Greek art of the 19th and 20th century. The paintings, portraits, portraits of ships, historical maps, which are exhibited in the Historical Gallery of the Museum, stand out. The Museum Library has more than 15000 book titles, mainly old and rare editions, many of which date back to the beginning of the 18th century. The Archives Department of the Museum includes "treasures" from public and private institutions concerning the history of Hydra mainly in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The Museum, without losing sight of its scientific orientation, while keeping its collections open to researchers, also develops a rich cultural activity. Throughout the year, its premises host temporary exhibitions, lectures and conferences, concerts, etc. It has become a reference point for Hydra, fulfilling a key cultural and educational role. Historical Archive of Hydra Museum PC 18040 Hydra Port Hydra Tel: (+30) 22980-52355 Fax: (+30) 22980-52355 mail@gak-ydras.att.sch.gr https://www.iamy.gr/