Situated within the Lahaina National Historic District, the Baldwin Home Museum is an easy must-see for anyone with an affinity for history. The building is one of the oldest in the area, and in the early 1800s it served as the home of Reverend Baldwin, an old missionary with huge influence on Maui during a period of prolific building and development.
Constructed of coral, sand, and lava rock and framed with rough-hewn timber, the building itself is a sight to behold. The larger windows in front of the house face the prevailing winds, and they are a lovely spot to try and put yourself in the shoes of the Baldwin family as they gazed over a Lahaina that looked much different than it does today.
Reverend Baldwin was highly fascinated and influenced by science, and his collection of scientific volumes grew to well over 200 throughout his life. Though he made an impact within his community on many levels, it wasn’t until a series of epidemics hit Maui that his legacy truly took shape. Measles and whooping cough hit first and hard—and though he was a religious leader, primarily trained in spiritual healing, his interest in the sciences was integral in developing techniques that helped to alleviate some of the turmoil that the diseases brought.
Not long thereafter, waves of influenza and dysentery hit, claiming the lives of two of his children. Baldwin was integral in securing Lahaina in quarantine and is widely credited with keeping the death toll to a few hundred while it climbed into the thousands on nearby O'ahu.
Though the museum is well worth your time and effort, when it comes to parking, be ready for combat. Arrive early (before 9 a.m.) to try and secure yourself a free spot nearby. If it's too crowded, there are several centrally-located parking lots that charge $10 to $15 to park. Trust us, it's well worth it. If you're unsuccessful still, go to Whaler’s Village. Any shop along the beachwalk will validate your parking if you spend over $20, which is laughably easy to do.
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