Juan Santamaría Museum, National history museum in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
The Juan Santamaría Museum occupies two historic buildings that once served as a jail and weapons storage facility. Inside, displays feature period artifacts, maps, and informational materials covering Costa Rican history across multiple centuries.
The museum was created in 1974 to preserve the story of 1856-1857, when the region fought against William Walker's armed forces. That period proved crucial in shaping Costa Rica's independent path and future stability.
The museum is named after Juan Santamaría, a local hero whose story shapes how people here understand their past. Walking through the rooms, you can see how this shared history connects visitors to the broader story of Costa Rican independence.
The museum sits on Avenida 1 between Calles Central and 2 in the city center and is easy to reach on foot. Plan to spend a few hours walking through the different rooms at your own pace.
The museum holds personal items and remains belonging to soldiers who fought in the decisive battles of that era. These physical objects make the human side of those historical events tangible and real.
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