History of Colombia, Tales from the Panopticon and Spirits of the National Museum

Great stories have unfolded in our country, Colombia, an incredibly beautiful and magical land. This museum, the oldest and most important in the country, is located in Bogotá, D.C. History permeates the air, with each room showcasing the culture, the celebrations, and, in part, the hardships endured by its inhabitants over more than 200 years.

Here are 10 stories to inspire your visit: Which story would you like to choose?

1. Colombia has incredible flora and fauna that must be known in order to preserve it; for this reason, the Botanical Expedition Room is perfect for understanding the richness of the national territory.

2. There is a kind of urban legend that talks about the ghosts of the National Museum.

3. The Santa Rosa de Viterbo meteorite is the oldest item in the entire Museum and the first to arrive when it was founded. However, the French scientists who found it were unable to bring it to Bogotá until years after its discovery. It is said that this meteorite fell in that municipality after a cosmic explosion more than 200 years ago.

4. The oldest item in the entire museum is the Puerto Chacho Vessel, which is at least 12,000 years old. However, it is one of the most recent additions to the collection compared to its age, having arrived in 1988 after a team of archaeologists discovered it near Cartagena.

5. One of the most valuable and yet most underappreciated items in the Museum is the crown given to the liberator Simón Bolívar in Cusco. The gift was presented to him by some ladies from that region of Peru after the Battle of Ayacucho. It is made entirely of gold, and it seems the liberator didn't wear it much.

6. The National Museum of Colombia was created in 1823 and is one of the oldest in the Americas. It offers its visitors seventeen permanent exhibition rooms, in which around 2,500 works and objects, symbols of the history and national heritage, are displayed.

7. The infrastructure of the National Museum is very complex since in its beginnings it was one of the largest prisons in the country and it houses elements of torture or elements to change the behavior of prisoners.

8. In its calendar of temporary exhibitions, the Museum presents displays of national and international history, art, and archaeology. Additionally, it offers a diverse academic and cultural program that includes lectures, concerts, theater performances, dance, and audiovisual presentations.

9. The Museum offers visitors workshops, specialized tours, and guidance for teachers, among other educational services. In addition to fulfilling its curatorial and research functions, the Museum is also a space for enjoyment and learning. This dual nature makes it an open and active place, and therefore, a space for communication.

10. Through its exhibitions, the National Museum raises public awareness about the development of societies, cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.

Don't miss out on these incredible adventures!

Tour participants must pay an entrance fee. During the week, museum admission costs 5,000 Colombian pesos (US$1.50). There is a discounted rate for students and foreigners (US$10). Admission is free on the last Sunday of the month.