DPW inspectors find former wax museum building unsafe
The Department of Public Works’ Building Safety Code Division has found the former Wax Museum of Saipan building in western Garapan to be an unsafe structure.
Yvonne B. Tenorio, who is the acting DPW Building Safety official, informed the owner of the former Max Museum Wednesday about the results of their inspection of the building.
DPW Secretary Ray N. Yumul agreed with Tenorio’s letter, which was addressed to So Boo Kim, president of Kanishima Group of Company.
Tenorio said the Building Safety Code inspectors performed a site inspection of the building on Dec. 19, 2023, and saw that the metal sections that hold the exterior walls in place are in an advanced stage of corrosion.
Tenorio said the metal brackets are unable to continue maintaining the stability to the walls.
She also noted the definition of an unsafe structure pursuant to the NMI Administrative Code.
The Wax Museum of Saipan, a two-floor museum located on Ginger Street, opened in November 2006. It’s unclear when the museum closed business.
During its opening, the museum consisted of over 15 display areas.
The first room contains a diorama of a Taga hut, a collection of historical photographs, and two life-size waxworks of Halloween figures: Frankenstein and the Werewolf.
The second floor had a room showing all the past and present governors and lieutenant governors of the CNMI. It also had an exhibit room that served as a gallery of paintings.
Ray N. Yumul
