Hu Shih Memorial Museum Introduction
Hu Shih was a pioneer in advocating liberalism, influenced in his thinking by Huxley and Dewey, claiming that Huxley taught him how to doubt, while Mr. Dewey taught him how to think. Throughout his life, he advocated the scholarly method of "bold hypothesis, cautious verification" and "every statement must be supported by evidence." He held positions such as Ambassador to the United States, President of Peking University, and President of the Academia Sinica. The Hu Shih Memorial Museum was originally his residence in Nangang during his later years when he served as the President of Academia Sinica (1958-1962). After Mr. Hu Shih passed away on February 24, 1962, the Academia Sinica Administrative Council approved the use of his former residence entirely as the Hu Shih Memorial Museum and promptly organized the "Hu Shih Memorial Museum Management Committee," with the museum officially established on December 10 of the same year; it was transferred to the Institute of Modern History in January 1998. The Hu Shih Memorial Museum comprises three parts: one is Mr. Hu Shih's residence in Nangang during his later years (1958-1962), known as the Taipei Hu Shih Former Residence. The architecture, corridors, and arrangements of the residence largely retain the original appearance of Mr. Hu's life. The second part is the exhibition room, constructed with a donation from C. V. Starr of the American International Group in 1964, displaying Mr. Hu Shih's works, manuscripts, photographs, relics, memorial objects, and documentaries about Hu Shih in Taiwan. The third part is Hu Shih's cemetery, which was expanded into "Hu Shih Park" in 1974. The park features winding paths through hills and serene mountainous scenery. Since its opening, it has attracted many visitors from both domestic and abroad, who not only pay their respects at the cemetery but also enjoy the scenic views.
