Panama History Museum, Panama City

The Panama History Museum is located on the ground floor of the Municipal Palace of Panama City, a neoclassical building completed in 1910 that continues to serve civic functions. The museum presents a broad overview of Panama’s past, with exhibits organized into three main rooms, each corresponding to a major historical period.

The Colonial History Room covers the era from 1501 to 1821, when Panama formed part of the Spanish Empire. Displays include route maps illustrating early trans-isthmian trade, European and Indigenous weapons, and reproductions of historic engravings that document colonial life and exploration.

The Departmental History Room focuses on the period from 1821 to 1903, when Panama was part of the Republic of Colombia as a department. This section examines political life, trade, and daily conditions during the nineteenth century, using copies of historical photographs and documents to illustrate the era.

The Republican History Room covers the period from 1903 to the present, beginning with Panama’s separation from Colombia. Among its highlights are a replica of the first Panamanian flag, designed by María Ossa de Amador, the wife of Manuel Amador Guerrero, Panama’s first president. The original design of the Panamanian Coat of Arms is also displayed, along with a draft of a telegram dated 3 November 1903, announcing Panama’s independence.