Sitting on an isolated rise just north of
downtown San Jose is one of the best examples
of why Costa Rica is so different from other
Latin American countries. The Children's Museum
of Costa Rica was not just the first of its
kind in Central America, but its location
was specifically chosen to send a message.
By taking the old military prison and turning
it into an interactive and educational experience
for its children, Costa Rica was sending the
message that the future of this tiny country
was not going to be that of bloodshed and
strife. Instead, its future would be the education
and care of its children.When Don 'Pepe' Figueres abolished the military in 1949 all the military barracks, fortresses and the military prison lost their reason for being. Instead of tearing down these buildings, the vast majority were turned into museums and research facilities. In fact, the National Museum of Costa Rica is housed in the former main military fortress of San Jose. In this way, the Costa Rican people have chosen not forget the lessons of the past. By keeping these buildings in tact, they are daily reminders of what might have been had they chosen a different path.
The former military prison was uniquely suited to becoming the Children's Museum because of its size and the necessary open space surrounding the building. Because of this, there are over 32 exhibition rooms and numerous different activities and experiences both indoors and out. Children can visit an old milk farm, travel through a history of Costa Rica, experience what it is like to be the director of a symphony orchestra, or listen as a life size robot of Franklin Chang recounts his experiences in space as a NASA astronaut. The museum is not only for Costa Rican children as it is a wonderful way for a visiting family to discover what everyday life is like for most citizens of this small democracy.
The museum is located on Calle 4 just north of Ave. 9. It is a large yellow building with high walls, corner turrets and it looks like an old medieval castle. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It costs $5 for adults, prices for children are substantially less, depending on age.
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