Qeshm’s Cisterns Revived as Living Museums

QESHM, IRAN – In an innovative initiative blending cultural, historical, and environmental approaches, a restoration project has begun to preserve and rehabilitate Qeshm Island’s ancient water cisterns. These historically significant structures, once vital sources of water, are now being reimagined as “living museums” — dynamic symbols of local heritage and sustainable living.

According to the Qeshm Free Zone Media Center, Ebrahim Rostam Goorani, Director of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, announced the launch of the project, emphasizing the cisterns’ centuries-old role in supporting the island’s social and economic life. Today, they are emerging as icons of indigenous knowledge, adaptation to arid climates, and the traditional architecture of southern Iran.

“These cisterns are more than water reservoirs,” Goorani said. “They tell stories of human resilience, wisdom, and intelligent coexistence with nature. Our goal is to document, protect, and enhance these structures with a museum-oriented perspective to ensure they are preserved for future generations.”

In the first phase of the project, cisterns in several of Qeshm’s rural villages are being restored. The plan includes infrastructure improvements, the installation of informational signs, the creation of visitor pathways, and training programs for local guides.

Goorani noted that over 50 water-related structures will be covered under this initiative. “The ‘Living Cistern Museums’ project is not just about infrastructure—it’s a cultural movement. It aims to link sustainable tourism with environmental education and the revival of Qeshm’s cultural identity. Multimedia content production and cultural tours are also part of the roadmap.”

He also highlighted the active participation of local communities—especially women, youth, and village elders—as a core strength of the project. Through educational workshops and oral history documentation, residents are helping to preserve traditional knowledge and water management customs, ensuring these living heritage sites continue to flow through time.