Fort Zoutman and the Willem III tower, the oldest building in Aruba house the Historical museum, a fascinating collection of articles spanning Aruba's history from the earliest times through the Spanish and Dutch periods. The Bon Bini festival, a weekly folklore fair is held here.
The Numismatic Museum situated next to the central bus station in Oranjestad contains over 30,000 historic coins and currencies from Aruba and around the world dating back to the 5th century B.C. including collection fron the Roman, Chinese and Byzantine empires.
The Archaeological Museum located diagonally across from the bus stop in Oranjestad, exhibits giant earthen jars over 5 rooms of which a few contain the remains of Aruba's original inhabitants! There's even a skeleton (though sadly not of a swashbuckling hard to catch buccaneer full with monocle!). Ancient artifacts, pottery tools and art are also displayed.
The Rococo Plaza or Museum of Antiquities showcases Louis XV Antiques & Curiosities and interesting items from Aruba and South America. The building itself is worth a dekko with onion shaped towers and a roof in red copper and made of antique building materials from the 17th century.
Other museums are the Aruba Local Balm museum that takes you through the 160-year old history of aloe gel and its harvesting techniques. Besides this you could see the De Man Shell collection in a private home on the island.
Access Art Gallery and Galeria Eterno are two art galleries you might want to drop by while on the island.
Shipwrecks are popular in Aruban history with Pedernales, Jane Sea and California wreck all being of historical significance as well as great viewing for diving enthusiasts.
The Church of Noord is a good example of neo-Gothic sculpture. The rectory was built in 1877 and is the oldest on the island. An interesting titbit that makes the church a place worth visiting is the fact that the retable, communion rail and pulpit won a prize at the first Vatican Council.
The Alto Vista Chapel built by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century is a little yellow building thought to be the first church in the Caribbean. Services are still conducted there and maybe you want to attend one. I certianly would... there's no other word for it... the church is cute. It's just the kind of place you'd want to find if you were Hansel and Gretel.
The Santa Ana Church showcases a 100 year old hand carved oak altar. Besides these, the Protestant church, the Beth Israel synangogue, the St. Franciscus Church are other religious sites worth a visit.
The Cultural center in Oranjestad, the Seaport Crystal theatre and the Let's Go Latin! are great theatre venues.
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