The Museo Histórico Juan Santamaría is in the Province of Alajuela near the interational airport, and it celebrates the life of the young soldier who gave his life for his country.

Museo Histórico Juan Santamaria is located in Alajuela Park, and the hero of Costa Rica is the honorary namesake for this museum. Juan Santamaria was a youth that served in the anti-filibuster armies of Costa Rica when the ruler of Nicaragua, an American named William Walker, was attempting to make as many nations as he could conquer in Central America into slave states for the US. Santamaria died while setting fire to a fort where opposition forces were holding their ground, and essentially turned the course of the war single handedly.

The Historical Museum of Juan Santamaria, which pays tribute to the young man who laid his life down for his country, is housed in a garrison that became irrelevant to the army after the military was disbanded by President José Figueres in 1949. The museum is a community development center offering educational opportunities, and there are also butterfly and orchid gardens.

The exhibition halls also contain artworks by Costa Rican citizens and include paintings, sculptures, etchings, photos and more. There are both permanent and temporary galleries that showcase works by both young and established artists. There are two permanent exhibitions and one temporary gallery that changes throughout the year.

Services and activities at Museo Histórico Juan Santamaria include guided tours, dances, concerts, lectures and theater performances. You can check the multilingual website for postings of upcoming events here. There is also a game room with puzzles and memory based games to help teach children about the history of Juan Santamaria and Costa Rica.

The Historical Museum of Juan Santamaria is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The admission to Museo Histórico Juan Santamaria is free of charge for foreigners and residents alike.

Location: Alajuela, Costa Rica (near Juan Santamaria International Airport)
Hours: 10:30 am-5 pm Tue-Sun
Price: Free
Galleries: Historical, Educational, Butterfly and Orchid Gardens, Art Exhibtions