Puerto Rico museums are proof that art imitates life. Its dozens of intriguing museums speak volumes about the island's past and present by showcasing everything from ancient artifacts and centuries-old paintings to contemporary collections and ultra-modern art. The island is also home to two world-class museums-the renowned Ponce Museum of Art with some of the most prestigious fine art collections in Latin America, as well as the Puerto Rico Museum of Art in Santurce, with its esteemed rotating exhibits and growing collection of Puerto Rican works spanning the last several centuries.
African Heritage Museum (Map)
Includes a display of African musical instruments, documents from the slave trade and many other items that explain African influences on island culture.
Plaza San José, Calle San Sebastián
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-724-4294
Caparra Ruins Historical Museum & Park (Map)
This museum, located near the ruins of one of the oldest Puerto Rican cities, exhibits objects related to the colonization of Puerto Rico.
Carretera #2, Km. 6,4. Guaynabo
Tel: 787-781-4795
Casa Alonso Museum of Art, History & Culture
This intriguing little museum is housed in a neoclassic, Creole-style building designated a National Historic Site by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1996.
Calle Betances 34, Vega Baja
Tel: 787-855-1364
Casa Blanca Museum (Map)
Casa Blanca was built in 1521 as a reward for Governor Ponce de León. Today, Puerto Rico's oldest house offers a glimpse into 16th- and 17th-century family life.
Calle San Sebastián 1
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-725-1454
Casa Cautiño Museum (Map)
An elegant and perfectly preserved neoclassic and Creole-style home built in 1887 by Genaro Cautiño Vázquez.
Calle Palmer 1 con Calle
Vicente Palés Guayama
Tel: 787-864-9083
Casa Roig Museum (Map)
A historic plantation, museum and cultural center with antique photos, furniture and rotating exhibits by contemporary Puerto Rican artists.
Calle Antonio López 66, Humacao
Tel: 787-852-8380
Children's Museum (Map)
A popular interactive children's museum with educational exhibits, located next to El Convento Hotel.
Calle del Cristo 150
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-722-3791
Coamo Museum (Map)
An exhibition of Coamo's history displayed in a sunny courtyard, with 450 years of artifacts, documents and pictures.
Calle José I. Quintón 29, Coamo
Tel: 787-825-1150 ext. 2052
Felisa Rincón de Gautier Museum (Map)
This museum displays historical documents and artifacts concerning the first woman mayor of San Juan, Rincón de Gautier, who served for 22 years.
Calle Caleta de San Juan 51
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-723-1897
Puerto Rico National Gallery (Map)
An extraordinary collection of some of the most significant paintings created on the island.
Antiguo Convento de los Dominicos
calles Norzagaray & San José
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-724-0700
La Casa del Libro Museum (Map)
In this 18th-century house, you'll find displays of the art of printing and bookmaking, plus a collection of rare books, some predating the 15th century.
Calle del Cristo 255
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-723-0354
Las Americas Museum (Map)
On the second floor of the Antiguo Cuartel de Infantería de Ballajá, this museum presents a vision of the history and cultures of the Americas from the pre-Columbian era to the present.
End of Norzagaray Street
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-724-5052
Aguada Museum (Map)
A former train station converted into a museum, featuring a Taíno Indian cultural art collection, santos and a large collection of antique irons.
Calle Nativo Alers 7, Aguada
Tel: 787-868-6300
Puerto Rico Museum of Art (Map)
This major museum features the works of Puerto Rico's finest artists of the last 500 years, as well as world-class rotating exhibits. The building houses a 400-seat theater, upscale restaurant and lavish sculpture garden.
Avenida De Diego 300, Santurce
Tel: 787-977-6277; www.mapr.org
Museum of Contemporary Art
The galleries feature changing exhibits from its collection, and visiting shows of modern island-made prints, paintings and sculpture created since 1940.
Edificio Histórico Rafael M. de Labra
Ave. Ponce de León & Ave. Roberto H. Todd, Santurce
Tel: 787-977-4030
www.museocontemporaneopr.org
Pablo Casals Museum (Map)
The former home of the legendary cellist houses a collection of his memorabilia, including instruments, manuscripts, texts of his speeches to the United Nations and his music, which can be heard on request.
Calle San Sebastián 101, Plaza San José
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-723-9185
Pío López Martínez University Museum (Map)
A collection that includes La Casa Frade Gallery in honor of the Cayeyan painter Ramón Frade, as well as the works of other well-known artists.
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Cayey, Ave. Antonio R. Barceló 14, Cayey
Tel: 787-783-2161
Ponce History Museum (Map)
Considered Puerto Rico's best civic museum, its exhibits illustrate the growth of Ponce from the 17th century to the present.
Calle Isabel 51-53, Ponce
Tel: 787-844-7071
Ponce Museum of Art (Map)
This world-class museum has more than 3,000 pieces, including European and American schools from the 14th to 20th century, Italian Baroque, British Pre-Raphaelite, Spanish Golden Age and contemporary Latin American art.
Ave. Las Américas 2325, Ponce
Tel: 787-848-0505
www.museoarteponce.org
Porta Coeli Religious Art Museum (Map)
The oldest church under the U.S. flag and one of only a few buildings in the New World constructed in Gothic architectural style, this landmark museum is full of religious artifacts and art.
Calle Rama 2 con Calle Dr. Veve
San Germán
Tel: 787-892-5845
Puerto Rico Indian Museum (Map)
A museum with an impressive collection of indigenous artifacts and exhibits.
End of Norzagaray Street
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-724-0700 ext. 4223
Ramón Power & Giralt House (Map)
Headquarters for the island's Conservation Trust, where history buffs can view a documentary film and enjoy the interactive exhibits.
Calle Tetuán 155
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-722-5834
Museum of San Juan (Map)
The permanent exhibition portrays San Juan's history from its natural origins up to today. The temporary hall hosts major exhibitions on a rotating basis, while the New Tendencies Hall features contemporary Puerto Rican artists.
Calle Norzagaray 150
Old San Juan
Tel: 787-723-4317
Serrallés Castle Museum (Map)
This mansion is a classic example of 1930s Spanish Revival-style with an informative display on the history of the sugar and rum industries.
Sector El Vigía 17, Ponce
Tel: 787-259-1774
Tobacco Museum Herminio Torres Grillo
Offers exhibits and demonstrations about the art of creating handmade cigars.
Calle Betances 87. Padial,
Caguas
Tel: 787-744-2960
Museum of History, Anthropology & Art at the University of Puerto Rico
History, anthropology and art serve as the focus for this fascinating museum.
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Ave. Ponce de León, Río Piedras
Tel: 787-764-0000 ext. 2452
Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust
Besides working to preserve the island's bays, beaches and historic and archaeological sites, the trust also operates this gallery and museum with a truly unique marine life exhibit.
Calle Flamboyán 138
Sector Esperanza, Vieques
Tel: 787-741-8850
View a complete list of activities, tours and attractions.
Puerto Rico museums are proof that art imitates life. Its dozens of intriguing museums speak volumes about the island's past and present by showcasing everything from ancient artifacts and centuries-old paintings to contemporary collections and ultra-modern art. The island is also home to two world-class museums-the renowned Ponce Museum of Art with some of the most prestigious fine art collections in Latin America, as well as the Puerto Rico Museum of Art in Santurce, with its esteemed rotating exhibits and growing collection of Puerto Rican works spanning the last several centuries. 
Casa Roig Museum (
Las Americas Museum (
Pío López Martínez University Museum (
Museum of San Juan (