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After visiting the canal, the Amador causeway, the museum of the history of the canal, the biodiversity museum, Ancon Hill and the old city, we had some time to fill. We really enjoyed our 45 minute visit in this important, modern and well curated museum. They offer a tour in English, which runs an hour and a half. Sadly we didn’t have time for this, but the staff members at this museum are young, extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic about sharing information about human rights in Panama and the world. They speak English perfectly and are available to explain and interpret the exhibits. Loved this museum, as did our teenage kids. …
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Date of experience: December 2019
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I think the museum touches on a highly important theme, especially for Panama. The Panamanian crisis during the Military Dictatorship and the American Intervention with Operation Just Cause, have been a topic of contention but also ignored. The museum tries to stay within the bounds so as not to choose a side but give sufficient information so that those born after the conflict can maybe begin to form their own opinion. I found that the museum needs more artifacts and visual material, the wow effect. I also felt that they skipped over how the military dictatorship got to power and their abuses. This being fundamental to the theme of the museum, the military dictatorship took actions against those who spoke against the government. Who were the dictators, how did they get to power and what they did to eventually cause the US in andino. We enjoyed the visits and the museum will continue to grow and expand with other buildings. They have a lot of information, too much to read in one visit which makes it a bit heavy for kids or adults who have only a couple of hours.…
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Date of experience: December 2019
1 Helpful vote
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I'll try to be brief.. My first visit was shortly after they opened, and we only allowed ourselves about 1 hour 15 minutes time, because we figured it was a small museum. I had trouble intermittently using the headphones for the interactive displays, we only had time for a whirlwind tour, but from what I saw, I said I would return on the next trip to PTY, early December. The second visit - WOW. Ended up spending four hours, and still didn't see it all! The starting point is a display with a timeline of basic human rights (mostly in Spanish), and a separate timeline of human rights in Latin America, mainly Panamá (also mostly in Spanish). Beyond this, you come to individual kiosks, each one detailing a basic human right. To me, these kiosks are the highlight of the museum, with their touch screen displays. The key is to pay the extra money to use the headphones, which augment these interactive displays nicely. Once you learn how to use them, you have access to additional information with simple touch screen menus. It gives you a good feel for the struggles marginalized people have gone through, and continue to do so. It's hard to put into words...best to just experience it. Even if you're not a history nut like me, if you have a basic curiosity of history or human rights, you could spend a couple hours here. Would kids like this museum? I think most would get something from a visit, but I could see how some might get fidgety after awhile. Or how the subject matter might be shocking for some. For example, parents would have to consider if their children are old enough to be exposed to the concept of genocide. The staff also mentioned there are special exhibits scheduled during the year, with the schedule posted on their website. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to see it on this trip. The displays are en español, some are translated to english. If you use the headphones (strongly recommended), you have the choice between español/english. The staff is also bilingual, and VERY courteous. The recommended donation is five dollars. I doubled that, because I found this museum FASCINATING, and I believe I should do my part to make this museum thrive. Sure, it is often sobering to see the suffering marginalized peoples have faced, and continue to face. But there are positive highlights to take from the visit. And the story told by this museum will always be important.…
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Date of experience: December 2019
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