3 – Netanya Museum

The building that houses the Netanya Museum was actually first built as a weaving workshop for blind girls. It was then called the Beit Ora Workshop. It first opened in 1958 and operated until 1991.
In 2010, the Netanya Municipality decided to renovate the site and turn it into a historic documentation center and a museum of the city’s history.
At the museum, there is a permanent historical exhibition of the history of the city since its very beginning in 1929. It tells the story of the city’s founders, who built a settlement based on orchards in the sands of the Sharon, but quickly shifted their focus to developing this area as a vacation spot. The city was founded by idealistic pioneers who believed in furthering the establishment of the State of Israel and actively contributed to this goal by taking in illegal immigrants who reached their shores. They were also active members of the underground movements.
After the State was established, Netanya continued its involvement in mass immigrant absorption. In just one decade, its population grew from 10,000 to 40,000 residents! The city continues to be a popular spot for Jewish immigrants from all over the world. The museum also features the original office used by the city’s founder, a model of diamond polishing equipment, old tools, a weapons cache once used by the underground, and more…
Over the years, the Netanya Museum has developed a wide range of tours throughout the city based on unique themes that correspond to different periods of the year and special events. Guided tours of the museum are available, as well as educational programs for children from kindergarten to high school. There are also unique cultural activities suitable for the entire family.
The museum houses an archive of the city’s history and private photographs and memoirs of Netanya residents. Materials from long-time residents and their families are always welcome, in order to continue to document the city’s development.
Guided tours of the museum are offered in Hebrew as well as various other languages.
The Museum’s address is:
3 MacDonald Street, Netanya
The Museum is open to the public on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and on Mondays from 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Friday visits are available by prior registration only.