The Juan Santamaria Historical and Cultural Museum                                           

The Juan Santamaria Historical and Cultural Museum was created by law No. 5619 on Dec. 4, 1974 and reformed by law in 1981, an initiative of congressman Dr. Luis Alberto Salas Corrales. The museum, originally only in the jail section of the building, opened its doors to the public in 1980.

The museum was named for national hero Juan Santamaria, a humble soldier from Alajuela who saved the nation on April 11,1856 by burning down the army headquarters of William Walker and his filibustero army who sought to claim Costa Rica and the other Central American countries as slave states for the United States. Santamaria lost his life in the act but is credited with saving Costa Rica's independance.

Mission

The mueum plays an important role in keeping alive the history of the Campaign of 1856 and the soldier from Alajuela who helped keep the nation and the region free.

The museum also has an important task in preserving the cultural patrimony of Costa Rica and as a depository of historical documents for the Alajuela area. The museum also has a committment to the community offering programs and educational services to the schools and the public.

Organization

The Juan Santamaria Historical and Cultural Museum in under the direction of the Ministry of Culture and Youth and is governed by a board of five directors who serve voluntarily and are chosen from the Ministry of Culture and educational institutions in Alajuela. The museum includes departments for conservation of historical patrimony, temporary and permanent exhibits, educational services and cultural promotion and publications.

Recognitions

The Museum has assumed its task like a civic and communitarian commitment. By his work of cultural promotion, it has been object of diverse recognitions.

Location

The museum lies in the heart of the city of Alajuela facing the central park and is just three kilometers from the Juan Santamaria international airport along the highway leading into the city. The legislators decided on this site for the museum because of the close bond and affection Alajuelans feel for their native son-hero.

Building: Old army garrison - City of Alajuela

Building: Old Jail - City of Alajuela

History

The museum is housed in what were once the city jail and the army garrison. Constructed during the reign of strongman-president Tomas Guardia (1870-1882) and remodeled in 1894-95 the buildings are now protected for their historical and patrimonial interest by decrees in 1976 and 1979. Thanks to the efforts of Alajuelan congressman Dr. Eduardo Soto Chavarria, the army garrison building, formerly part of the Ministry of Education, was passed to the Ministry of Culture to be added to the museum.

In December of 1948 the army was abolished in Costa Rica and the garrison was used for a high school until 1960 and then became the Center for Research for Technical Improvement (CIPET) under the Ministry of Education.

The recorded history of the site goes back to November 14, 1817 when it was registered in Cartago, the then capitol, as colonial protocol No. 1050. In September, 1822 owners don Rosario Carrillo and his wife doña Maria Fernandez donated the land where the jail was located to be used for a house of education and a chapel to St. Michael, the archangel. However, this promise was forgotten and the building was used to house the city's criminals until 1974 when the museum was established.

Translator: Mitzi Stark