Bayamon Museums and Art Galleries

(Bayamon, Puerto Rico)

Whilst Bayamon contains a reasonable collection of museums, to discover Puerto Rico's best artists you will need to head to Old San Juan, where more than a dozen art museums and even more galleries showcase the best that this island nation has to offer. These museums display the legacy of Puerto Rican art, while the galleries sell everything from original works worth a mint, to prints by many of the country's top artists.

Traditional crafts like 'santos' (representations of saints) also rank among the gems of Puerto Rico's art scene, so you may find yourself taking home a carved wooden saint along with your Angel Botello painting. Gallery nights take place on the first Tuesday between February and May, when the city's galleries open late, offering food, drinks and special exhibits. If you are here in April, then you will find that the annual CIRCO art fair at the Puerto Rico Convention Centre is a real highlight.

Francisco Oller Museum of Art and History (Museo de Oller)

Address: Between Calle Degetau and Calle Maceo, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 785 6010
The best place in Bayamon to check out the art and cultural legacy of the San Juan metropolis is at this museum dedicated to the artist Francisco Manuel Oller Cestero (1833 to 1917), an early Latin American painter known for his part in developing impressionism. Located within the former City Hall, the gallery stands on the historic district's plaza and is easy to find. The city's history, art, sports relics and other interesting memorabilia are on display, including some attractive Taino pieces.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:00
Admission: free

Museum of Art (Museo de Arte)

Address: 299 Jose de Diego Avenue, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 977 6277
San Juan's newest home for Puerto Rican art is a masterpiece of culture and social interaction. Once a hospital, millions of dollars were used to transform this building into a lovely centre of art where many residents go weekly to take in a theatre performance, relax in the 5-acre / 2-hectare garden or to simply admire the art work. The Museo de Arte is a must-see if you have any interest in this nation's admirable art legacy.
Open hours: Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Dr. Jose Barbosa Museum and Library (Museo Biblioteca Dr. Jose Barbosa)

Address: 16 Barbosa Street, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 977 2700
This historical museum showcases the life and achievements of the 'father of statehood', Jose Barbosa. The local doctor was hugely influential in Puerto Rico's development, establishing the first healthcare system, the first bilingual newspaper and pioneering political reform. The Museo Biblioteca Dr. Jose Barbosa displays an assortment of interesting relics, information and photos relating to Barbosa himself.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Caparra Museum (Museo de Caparra)

Address: Caparra, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 781 4795
The Caparra Museum lies just off Highway 2 and to the east of the city, in the suburb of Guaynabo and on the very spot where famous Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León y Figueroa (1474 to 1521) first settled on this island in 1508, becoming the very first Governor of Puerto Rico soon after. Displaying various Taino artefacts and exhibits, the Museo de Caparra is worth visiting if you are passing this way, when you will likely ask yourself why he chose to settle here in the first place, next to a huge swamp!
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 08:30 to 16:15
Admission: free

San Juan Art History Museum (San Juan de Arte Museo de Historia)

Address: 150 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 724 1875
Works by both contemporary and past Puerto Rican artists are displayed in this important repository for the nation's art. Paintings, sculptures and wonderful crafts like santos, created by living top-rated local artists, are here. But it is not all about art. A one-hour documentary film explains the city's amazing 500-year history, and a collection of old photographs adds a rare look into the San Juan of the past. Guided tours are a great way to learn more about the works on display.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

More information about San Juan museums.