La Casa Blanca Museum
Photo © Zain Deane
Probably the most famous of all the small museums, La Casa Blanca, or "White House," is one of the oldest buildings on the island. It was built by Juan Ponce de León himself in 1521. Unfortunately, he never got to enjoy it because he set off for Florida and the Fountain of Youth. His house was destroyed in 1523 by a hurricane and then rebuilt by his son-in-law, and the Ponce de León family lived here for over 250 years. Now the building chronicles the life of Puerto Rico's founding family, and the guided tour takes you through the various rooms of the house. This was also Puerto Rico's first stone-built fort, and you'll see how it was used to defend the island.
Call: 787-725-1454
La Casa Del Libro
La Casa del Libro, or "House of the Book," is just that: a small home in which more than 7,000 rare and special books are treasured and displayed. Among the priceless collection are:
- A document signed by Isabel and Ferdinand regarding Columbus' second journey, which is believed to be the oldest printed document in the Americas.
- A copy of James Joyce's Ulysses illustrated by Matisse
- A single page from a 1450 Gutenberg bible
- A copy of Don Quixote printed in 1605 (its first year of publication).
The museum also houses the largest collection of incunables in Latin America. These are books published in the first fifty years of the Gutenberg press and the birth of the modern printing age.
Call: 787-723-0354
Casa Don Q
Photo © Zain Deane
This tiny museum across the street from the cruise ship piers has old photographs and memorabilia from the Serralés Distillery, where Puerto Rico's favorite Don Q rum is made. While the rum-barrel display is quite attractive, the best (and most popular) part of the museum is the bar where you can get a free sample of one of the many varieties of Don Q rums. Of course, bottles of all these rums are available for sale as well, and this is one of the few places where you can get Don Q Gran Añejo, considered one of the top five best aged rums in the world.
Call: 787-977-1720
Felisa Rincón de Gautier Museum
Photo © Zain Deane
In a quiet corner of Old San Juan just across from the San Juan Gate stands a tribute to one of the most influential women in Puerto Rican history. In 1946, Felisa Rincón de Gautier became the first female mayor of San Juan. She served in this capacity for 22 years and became a local and international champion for the feminist movement. Felisa was a highly decorated individual: at her museum (which used to be her home) over 130 commendations from governments and institutions hang on two stories of wall space, commemorating her many accomplishments in and out of the political arena. The rest of the museum pays homage to the life of this remarkable woman.
Call: 787-723-1897
Museo De La Farmacía
Photo © Zain Deane
Located in one of the oldest buildings in Old San Juan-the Casa del Callejón-this small museum is a recreated pharmacist's shop with objects and equipment representative of a 19th Century Puerto Rican pharmacy. On the second floor you'll find another museum devoted to depicting the typical life of a wealthy family living on the island during the 1800s.
Call: 787-977-2700
Museo Del Niño
Photo © Zain Deane `
The Museo Del Niño, or "Children's Museum," in Old San Juan has enough to make any adult jealous: a kids-only "town," a kid-friendly recreation of a Puerto Rican plaza, a kids' computer center, and a costume wardrobe are all part of the experience here for your children. One of the coolest areas of the museum is the mini TV studio, where children play the part of news anchors, with cameras rolling and an audience in front of them. Also, don't miss the health hall, where children can learn about healthy living and the basic human anatomy with a helping hand (and organs) of "Stuffee," a giant muppet-like figure who zips open to reveal all that the human body has inside.
Call: 787-722-3791
Museo de Nuestra Raiz Africana
I know that sounds like a mouthful to the non-Spanish speaker; it means "Museum of our African Roots." This is the place to explore the African influence on Puerto Rico's history, from the time Spain imported slaves to the island to their gradual immersion into local society. Learn about how African culture, music, dance, and cuisine has translated through the centuries to modern-day Puerto Rico.
Call: 787-724 4294
Museo Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals was a master cellist and one of the island's most beloved musical legends. Although he was born in Spain, Casals moved to Puerto Rico in 1957 and founded the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. He remained here until his death, by which time his Casals Festival had become one of the premier classical music events in the Caribbean. The museum contains Casals' cello, piano, and original manuscripts of his music. Classical music lovers will want to visit the music room on the second floor, where they can listen to samples and browse through the hundreds of recordings and video tapes from past Casals Festivals.
Call: 787-723-9185
