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San José
Museum Guide

If you're staying in the capital, San José has several high-quality, entertaining and informative museums across the city. And they're cheap: most entrance fees are under three dollars, with substantial discounts available for students with identification. The following is a sample of the city's educational offerings.
Museum of Costa Rican Art
The artwork starts with the building itself, the beautiful art deco terminal of the old airport. This museum houses a wonderful permanent display of Costa Rican national art from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and boasts over 3,200 pieces on display. Rotating international exhibits fill the auxiliary galleries, making frequent visits enjoyable. After checking out the museum, head to the backyard: expansive Sabana Park. The museum is
located on the east end of the park and is open from 10AM to 4PM Tuesday through Saturday, and 10AM to 2PM Sunday. Entrance fee is 400 colones, or just over a buck. Telephone is 222-7155.

Jade Museum
The Jade Museum is currently undergoing another remodeling and is closed to the public.

National Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design
A spectacular maze of libraries, theaters, and galleries emphasizes current trends in art and design. The architecture is excellent. The new cultural site is the old liquor factory, located between the Parque España and the National Library, Avenida 3, Calles 15 and 17. Open from 10AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday. Entrance fee is 300 colones. Telephone is 257-7202.

Entomological Museum
Insects. Millions of them, in specimen form, on display in the basement of the School of Music building on the University of Costa Rica campus in San Pedro (4 kilometers east of downtown San José). More than one million samples are on display, including a large collection of rare butterflies. Exhibit times vary; usually they are open from 1-5PM, Monday through Friday, but it's best to call first. Entrance fee is around 200 colones. Telephone is 225-5555.

Children's Museum
This world-class museum is a delight for those traveling with children or those with a young spirit. Hands-on exhibits illustrate concepts of technology, science, culture and literature, all from a Costa Rican perspective. Especially noteworthy are the funhouse and the earthquake simulator. The edifice itself is the old Costa Rican jail, and a section details what life was like when the now jubilant grounds were filled with criminals. Admission is 600 colones for adults and 300 colones for children, and includes entrance to the art gallery and jail exhibit located within the building. Open 9:30AM to 3:30PM weekdays; 10:00AM to 4:00PM weekends. Telephone is 258-4929.
La Salle Museum of Natural Sciences
More than 18,000 specimens are on display in one of the most comprehensive exhibits in the world on natural sciences. Included among the intriguing items are a two-headed calf, a whale skeleton and African chimps. The museum is located southwest of La Sabana park, and is open from 8AM to 4PM Monday through Saturday and 9AM to 5PM on Sunday. Tourists pay 400 colones to get in. Telephone is 232-1306.

Gold Museum
One of the world's five museums focused on pre-Columbian gold, the Gold Museum recently underwent a wonderfully executed renovation. The result is a transformed exhibit, focusing on teaching about the precious metal and its function within Costa Rican indigenous societies. The hundreds of glittering figures take center stage, but there is also a numismatic museum featuring rare coins and bills and a small art gallery. The museum is open 9AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Friday. Located under the Plaza de la Cultura; entrance is from the east side. Entrance fee is 1,500 colones for tourists, 700 for residents of Costa Rica. Telephone is 223-0528.

National Museum
This excellent museum shows exhibits on pre-Columbian art, indigenous culture in Costa Rica, and colonial life in addition to a focus on Costa Rican history, archeology, geology, and historical documents. Located in the old Fort, one
can see the bullet holes from the 1948 revolution still marking the walls. The view of San José from the observation deck is excellent, and the shady plaza is pleasant. Open 8:30AM to 5PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Entrance fee is 200 colones. Telephone is 257-1433.

Museum of Criminology
Many out-of-date guides say this museum contains strange pictures and severed body parts. However, the museum changed focus and now it's mainly a collection of weapons and drug paraphernalia displayed in an educative manner for children. Not recommended as a tourist destination. Located in the Supreme Court building. Open 1-4PM, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Admission is free. Telephone is 223-0666, ext. 2378.
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