National Museums
The national museum was founded in 1897 and
has become a cultural center by excellence. In 1949 after
Costa Rican government abolished the army, the museum was
recollected in the former Bellavista Quarter, and declared
a historic patrimony.
The museum not only embraces the "memories
of the people", but also researches, rescues, collects,
exhibits, and upholds the cultural and natural patrimony of
Costa Rica. Among the collections are:
Archeological: 45,000 pre-Columbia objects
made of stone, ceramics, gold, jade and other materials.
Artistic: Sacred Arts (paintings and sculptures)
Historical: documents, stamps, fabrics, weapons,
numismatics, antique furniture, and the first printing machine
that ever came the country.
Natural: Inside the facilities there is the
National Herbarium, with close to 190.000 specimens distributed
among 60.000 insects, 10.000 Costa Rican birds, fossils, mollusks,
and vertebrate animals.
Information:
Museum Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address: 17 St., Central & 2nd., San José.
Marco
Fidel Tristan Jade Museum
The Jade Museum currently exhibits the largest
American pre-Colombian jade collections anywhere. It is an
archaeological museum with enormous artistic quality pieces
made of jade, carved stone, ceramics, and gold.
The archaeological pieces from the South
Pacific Caribbean Coast, and Central Intermountain Region
are displayed in the different rooms accompanied by maps and
objects that serve as context to the collection.
Information:
Museum hours: through Friday 8:30 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Address: Ave. 7, Sts 9 & 11, San José, 11 th floor of
the National Insurance Institute.
Costa
Rican Art Museum
The charming neocolonial edification from
the 1940's opened its doors to the public on May 3rd. 1978
where once the terminal of the former La Sabana International
Airport operated.
Nowadays, the museum has a collection of
over 2.500 works of national painters, and is in charge of
preserving, and promoting the plastic arts in all its manifestation
throughout the country. These works represent the chronological
development of the artistic movement in Costa Rica that dates
back to 1850.
It has two different collections: Costa Rican
and International Art. These is also a beautiful "Golden
room", where the French artist Louis Feron sculpted a
stucco high relief and that bathed it with bronze.
Information:
Museum hours: Tuesday though Sunday from
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Address: La Sabana Metropolitan Park, San José.
Insect
Museum of the University of Costa Rica.
The museum displays more than one million
specimens of insects collected from the world throughout different
investigations. It is located within the university campus;
therefore you can get acquainted with the University of Costa
Rica and the museum, all in one visit. Moreover, you can enjoy
and discover the different collections of dragonflies, metallic
beetles, butterflies, flies and thousands more insects of
all shapes, sizes and colors. Upon request, you can visit
the Leonel Oviedo Reserve, a tropical forest of the Biology
School.
Information:
Museum hours: Monday through Friday, from
1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Basement of the Musical Arts Faculty University of
Costa Rica.
Central
Bank of Costa Rica Museums
These museums include the pre-Colombian Gold
Museum, the Numismatic Museum and the Plastic Arts Collection.
They are considered the most valuable in their gender. More
than 2,60 ore-Colombian gold pieces are exhibited in a setting
that explains the techniques used by the Indians when working
with precious material.
In addition, there is a collection of coins
and bills that have been used in the country and which replaced
the use of cacao beans as a means of trade.
The building is located underneath the Plaza
de la Cultura and represents one of the most contemporary
designs of San José. In fact, this structure has become one
of the highlights in the history of Costa Rica's architecture.
As a complement to the many exhibits, lectures, courses, workshops,
and music and poetry presentations are offered.
Information:
Museum tours: Tuesday through Sunday, from
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: 2nd & central Ave., 5thSt, San Jose.
Guided tours for private groups are offered
with prior appointment, as well individual tours are available
with audio recording "Acoustiguide". There is also
a visitors information booth.
Children's
Museum
This is the first museum of its class in
Central America. It is a magical place for both children and
adults to learn through playing.
The museum is located in the former Central
Penitentiary, which is an impressive well-burned brick structure
built in 1906.
The children's section consists of 32 interactive
exhibition rooms where you can see Costa Rican astronaut Franklin
Chang's robot. As well, you can experience an earthquake direct
a digital orchestra, travel back in time into Costa Rica's
history, play in a radio station and much more.
Among the facilities is the National Gallery
with temporary arts and cinema exhibits of the Central American
region, the information and Video Library Center "Carlos
Luis Sáens" in which you can obtain information on the
scientific-technological and cultural field, and the modern
National Auditorium with a capacity of 500 people for congresses,
conferences, theater or dance presentations.
In the museum the history of the penitentiary
is recreated and provides visitors with the opportunity of
discovering its background, design, construction, penal population
and other relates information.
Information:
Museum hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address: Former Penitentiary, San José.
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