A list of Museums.

OLD SAN JUAN:

Fort El Morro is at the top of the hill of Old San Juan. At the other end of Norzagaray Street is the San Cristobal Fort, walk between the two forts, along the road at the top. If you have a choice, see them on two different days.

• Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Built between 1539 and 1589, with later expansions, rises 140 feet above the sea, looking over the entrance to San Juan Harbour, the fort is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, and canon ramps. It consists of 74 acres of grounds and fort. Open 9 am to 6 pm. Adults $7 for pass for the two forts for 24 hours. (National Park pass can bring 4 people free). Children 15 and under free.

• Castillo San Cristobal was built in the 1700's, one of the largest defense systems ever built in the Americas. Guided tours are available Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays at 10, 11 am and 2 and 3 pm. You can wander around the mazes and tunnels on your own, 9 am to 6 pm. t. 787.729-6754.

Near the El Morro fort are the following museums:

• BALLAJA Museo de Las Américas, ( photo at the top) Former military barracks for the Spanish and then the Americans..several different exhibits on the second floor, some changing, Cultures of North, Central and South America. Large building with courtyard. Closed Monday. Art films downstairs in the evenings in 'CINEMA BAR' . Hours: 9 to 12 and 1-4 weekdays & 11 to 5 weekends. t. 787.724-5052, 787.723-4481 Restaurants, Coffee. Seniors and children $4. Adults $6.

Walking down the cobble stoned Cristo Street:

• Casa Blanca Museum, built in 1521 by the family of Ponce de Leon, who lived in it for 250 years. It is now a historical museum with 2 sections, one of the Taino Indians and one of the history of the house. . t. 787.725-1454, 787.724-4102

• Museum of Felicia Rincón de Gautier. Former home of first woman Mayor of San Juan. Photographs, elaborate wigs, fans, keys to cities. 51 Caleta Street. Open Fridays 9-4 and Saturdays 10-3 only. t. 787.723-1897

• Casa del Libro. Museum and Library with rare books and manuscripts, including two royal mandates ( signed by Ferdinan and Isabela) concerning the provisioning of Columbus's second voyage, in which Puerto Rico was discovered. Cristo Street. 11 am to 4:30 pm closed Sunday and Monday. t. 723-0354

• La Fortaleza ( the governors mansion) is open to the public on a limited basis, You can tour the grounds.

Above painting by primitive artist Cajiga: 'Woman washing clothes in stream'

• Casa de la Familia Puertoriqueña t. 787.977-2700

• Casa Ramón Power y Giralt. Restored home in which the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust has a small exhibit about critical environmental concerns. 10 am- 4 pm, closed Sunday and Monday. t. 787.722-5834

• Casa de los Contrafuertes. Changing exhibits of Latin American Prints. closed Monday and Tuesday. 9 am to 4:30 pm t. 787.724-5477
• Casa de Los Zaguanes. ( two foyers) 8 am to 4 pm. closed Saturday and Sunday t. 724-5477

• Casa Rosada. built in 1812, Government tourist office with brochures, maps and a welcome cocktail. Open daily 8 am to 5 pm t. 787.724-1454 $2.

• La Casita ( little yellow building by the waterfront) Government tourism office, brochures, maps, free cocktail. Open late daily, hours vary. t. 787.722-1709

GREATER SAN JUAN:

• Museo de Arte y Historia de San Juan Contemporary Puerto Rican sculpture and clay, paintings and in impressive exhibit of hand carved 'Santos'. 150 Norazagaray Street. Closed Saturday and Sunday. 8 am to 4:30 pm. t. 787.724-1875

• Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, De Diego Ave. Santurce, Puerto Rico's' most treasured works of art, including Francisco Oller and Jose Campeche. theater, and sculpture gardens. Closed Monday. Open 10 am to 5 pm, later on Wednesday nights, t. 787.977-6277 $5.

• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo on Ponce de Leon ave. at stop 18. Santurce. New museum with very good exhibits by Puerto Rican and Latin American contemporary artists. t. 787.977-4030/31

• Museum of History, Anthropology and Art at the University of PR, main campus in Rio Piedras. History, archeology and fine arts. t. 787.764-3939

• The Botanical Gardens are somewhat near the University and have a sculpture garden, many paths and areas planted with exotic plants and flowers.

BEYOND INNER SAN JUAN:

• Luis Muñoz Marin Foundation ( Trujillo Alto) t. 787.755-7979
• Casa Museo Dr. José Celso Barbosa (Bayamon) t. 787.786-8115
• Casa Jesus T. Piñero ( Canovanas) t. 787.977-2700
• Caparra ruins historical Museum and Park (Guaynabo) t. 787.781-4795

AROUND THE ISLAND, NEAR SAN JUAN:

Caguas:
• Museo de Arte de Caguas t. 787.744-8833

Vega Baja:
• Casa Alonso Museum of Art, History & Culture t. 787.858-7113

Gurabo:
• Museo y Centro de Estudios Humanisticos de La Universidad del Turabo t. 787.743-7979

Barranquitas:
• Casa Luis Muñoz Rivera t. 787.857-0230

REALLY OUT ON THE ISLAND:

Ponce:

• Museo de Arte de Ponce. t. 787.848-0505

• * Ponce History Museum is a lovely, restored, 'art nouveau' style home with lots of stained glass and a bathtub carved out of one piece of local marble. History exhibits are all in Spanish.


• Castillo Serrallés Museum t. 259-1770
• Music Museum t. 848-7016
• Museo de la Masacre t. 844-9722
• Casa Paoli Museum t. 840-4115

Utuado:
• Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Caguana t. 894-7300

Coamo:
• Coamo Museum t. 825-1150

Guayama:
• Casa Cautiño Museum t. 864-9083
• Guayama Fine Arts Museum ( varied exhibit).

San German:
• Porta Coeli Religious Art Museum t. 787.892-5845

Mayaguez:

• Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo Probably not open. t. 787.832-6330. Birds, monkeys, lions, tigers, giraffes, reptiles and amphibians. closes 3:30 pm and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Tropical Agricultural Research Station t. 787.831-3435. weekdays to 4 pm

Vieques Island:

• Museo Fort Conde del Mirasol t. 787.741-1717 Art & artifacts exhibits, great views of Isabel II.
• Lighthouse Museum ( opening soon?)
• Historical and Conservation Trust . Nature oriented. Small fish tanks. 787.741-8850.