OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

The Costa Rican Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport (MCJD) has announced that a serious of Costa Rican archeological samples will be placed in exhibit in Canada’s Pointe à Callière Museum in Montreal.

The recent collaboration has allowed for a total of 258 pieces to be transported to Canada for its exhibition at the Pointe à Callière Museum starting November 2nd and ending April 19th, 2009.

Museum curator Claude Chapdeleine from Canada and Costa Rican archeologist Ricardo Vázquez carefully picked each of the 258 samples that will tell the story of Costa Rica’s era from 500 BC up to the arrival of the Spaniards.

According to museum representatives, the samples chosen to travel abroad are among the most beautiful and significant within the museum’s collection.  The Costa Rican National Museum has stated that many of the pieces chosen to be exhibited in Canada have been acquired over the last 10 years and have never before been exhibited.

Thanks to the funding by the Pointe à Callière Museum in Montreal, the exhibition named “Costa Rica: Land of Wonders” is the largest in Costa Rican history to be showcased in a specialized foreign museum.

Among the pieces taken to Canada 99 are ceramic, 49 stone, 58 gold and 52 jade.  All archeological pieces will return to Costa Rica by May 2009.

written by fernando \\ tags: Costa Rica Pointe a Calliere Museum, Costa Rican archeological, Costa Rican Ministry of Culture, Pointe à Callière Museum

The Costa Rican National Museum will hold a temporary exhibit starting August 26th at which visitors will be able to learn about the history behind the museum’s building.

The building which today houses the National Museum used to be a military fort in the early 1900’s until the Costa Rican army was abolished in 1948.  One of the museum’s representatives mentioned that the exhibit will be quite simple as for the building itself is the main exhibition.

However, the museum will open what used to be the dungeons to the public.  The dungeons have been kept off limits to visitors until now.  The recent announcement made by the museum stated that visitors will be able to see were prisoners of war were once imprisoned as well as were misbehaved soldiers were disciplined.

The statement mentioned that half century old graffiti remains intact on the dungeon walls which will allow for a closer encounter and feel to the early 1900’s military and prisoner environment.

The exhibition has been dubbed “From Fort to Museum” and will also include a chronological set of photographs of the military Bellavista Fort as well as its transition to museum as we know it today.

The “From Fort to Museum” exhibition will open on August 26th and will be open from Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.  The National Museum is located in downtown San Jose on 17th Street between Central and Second Avenue.

written by fernando \\ tags: Costa Rica Army Abolished, Costa Rican National Museum

If you are planning on visiting the Costa Rican National Museum within the next few months, you might be disappointed to find that certain areas will be closed down due to restoration.

The former Bellavista Fort was constructed in the early 1900’s to be used by the military before its abolishment in 1948.  It wasn’t until 1950 when the National Museum of Costa Rica moved into the former military base and has been there since then.

For the first time in over 50 years, the building will undergo extensive restoration due to its deplorable structural conditions.  The historic site has not received proper maintenance since the 1950’s and the negligence has finally taken its toll.

The restorations will be divided into 5 major sections which are:

• The former Commander and Sub Commander’s houses on the east side that are currently administrative offices
• The north wing which houses the Archeology and Gold Exhibitions as well as the auditorium and Colonial House.
• The former dungeon on the south side which today is the dinning area and laundry room.
• The Patriotic History Salon, library and administrative area on the north west corner
• The watch tower and contention wall on the south west corner

Other areas which have remained closed to the public for years will also be restored and reopened to the public.

Damages such as rusted tin roofs, leaks, termites and others are the primary cause of deterioration.  The representatives have mentioned that due to the building’s historic value, renovations will seek to enhance the structure’s original architecture and will not seek to alter it in any way.

The archeological exhibition salon has been the first to one to close down and will reopen within two months after repairs to the roof and ceiling have been completed.

written by fernando \\ tags: Bellavista Fort, Costa Rican National Museum, National Museum of Costa Rica