Museums of Tegucigalpa

Tegucigalpa, together with being the the capital of Honduras, is also the nation's cultural center. It is home to several good museums and galleries, most of them centrally located, within walking distance of the Parque Central and therefore easily accessible.

National Art Gallery

The Galería Nacional de Arte (National Art Gallery) is located one block south of the Parque Central, in the Plaza de Merced, next to the Congressional Building. This outstanding museum is dedicated to Honduran art, with works ranging from Mayan ceramics to Colonial paintings, with a good collection of contemporary art as well.

The two-story museum building is set around a beautifully renovated central patio, complete with a well. It was built in 1654 by the San Pedro Nolasco Convent. From 1857 to 1968, the first University in Honduras was housed there. A major restoration began in 1985 and the edifice became the home of the National Art Gallery in 1994.

The building is a good introduction to the characteristic Colonial-style buildings of Honduran history. The walls are painted white and the dark wood that frames the doors and windows sets off the fact that the adobe is two feet thick in some areas. The ceilings and some of the windows are supported by mahogany beams.

The architecture alone makes this building a work of art, but it is also a gallery. The stark walls, warm woods, and neutral tiles are a perfect setting for a representative collection of Honduran art. The collection is presented through 12 halls that are tastefully arranged in chronological order, from pre-Colombian carvings and sculpture to modern masterpieces. There is also a salon for frequent temporary exhibits, and cultural, social, tourist, and artistic events.

National Museum of History

Museo Histórico de la República (National Museum of History) is one block west of the Galería Nacional de Arte. Housed in the former presidential palace of Honduras - which in itself is an interesting 19th-century structure with gardens along the river - the museum has exhibits depicting the history of Honduras since its independence from Spain.

Museum of the Honduran Man

Museo del Hombre Hondureño (Museum of the Honduran Man), located on Avenida Cervantes, four blocks east of the Central Plaza, is housed in a large, dark-gray single-story Colonial building that appears rather stark. The edifice, however, was originally the home of liberal reformist Ramon Rosa and later on housed the Supreme Court of Justice. The Museum functions as both an art gallery for Honduran painters, as well as a restoration workshop. It has permanent exhibits of antique paintings and artifacts pertaining to the evolution of the Honduran man. Similar to the National Gallery of Art, this building has been restored with a lavish flair and is frequently used to entertain visiting dignitaries.

Military History Museum

The Museo Histórico Militar (Military History Museum) is adjacent to the Parque Valle. To get there, walk two blocks east down Ave Miguel Barahona from the eastern end of the Pedestrian Street by the Cathedral, and you’ll see the park on your left. This museum has antique and modern firearms, personal objects, photographs, and displays of various military heroes and Honduran strongmen.

Villa Roy Museum of Republican History

Museo de Historia Republicano Villa Roy, is in the Barrio Buenos Aires, north of downtown. From the end of the pedestrian walkway, turn right onto Calle Morelos and continue straight for seven blocks. The last three blocks are up a hill. The museum is on the right-hand side of the street. You can also get to the Calle Morelos by following the street behind Los Dolores Church two blocks west and then turning right. This museum is an 18th-century mansion – formerly the home of President Lozano Díaz – and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Other exhibits and displays include pre-Colombian archaeological objects, and a section covering the eight indigenous groups of Honduras.

Banco Atlántida Art Gallery

Sala Bancatlan, Plaza Bancatlan, on Boulevard Miraflores, houses a private collection of valuable pre-Hispanic artifacts, coins and some of the best contemporary paintings by Honduran artists. It is open on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. To get there, either hire a taxi or take a shared taxi from downtown to Plaza Miraflores. The exhibit is in a large building, Sala Bancatlan, in the Plaza Bancatlan compound on the corner across the street.

Central Bank Museums

Rigoberto Borjas Numismatic Museum, Central Bank Annex, 5-6 Ave, 11-12 Calle, Comayagüela. This museum has a permanent exhibit of Honduran coins and currency dating back to the 1900s.

Central Bank Arturo H. Medrano Art Gallery, across the street from the Congressional Building, two blocks south of The centRal plaza. This is the best collection of Honduran paintings available to the public, with the work of 28 master artists on display.

Museum of Natural History

The Museo de Historia Natural houses displays on the country’s eco-systems and animal life, as well as a collection of stuffed specimens. The museum is at the National University in the Biology Department, which is in Building CB. The University Campus is near the Suyapa Basilica.

Honduran Air Museum

The Museo del Aire de Honduras is at Toncontin Airport, behind the Officer’s Club at the Air Force Base,   233-4623, 233-4692. This outdoor museum at the airfield has a collection of 18 airplanes. The oldest, a North American NA-16, dates back to 1936. Other interesting models include a Bell P-63E King Cobra from 1948 and a Boeing Stearman PT17 from 1946.