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Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien

Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien
The rooftop terrace of the museum, 2018
Map
Established
  • Groundbreaking: 1974
  • Grand Opening: April 7, 1983
LocationGMV7+455, Av. de la République, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Coordinates18°32′35″N 72°20′13″W / 18.542975505438474°N 72.33697797437377°W / 18.542975505438474; -72.33697797437377
MUPANAH is mostly built underground, and the entrance features a wide, flowing arc of cement.

The National Pantheon Museum of Haiti (MUPANAH) is a museum featuring the heroes of the independence of Haiti, Haitian history, and culture.[1][2] The museum is mostly underground, and you enter through a wide opening made of cement. The roof of the museum has several publicly accessible reflecting pools and gardens, designed for visitors to reflect upon the trials of slavery and the legacy of the Haitian Revolution.[3] The museum features exhibits on the Taíno culture and slavery, revolution, the sugar and tobacco trades, and more. One of its main missions is to participate in heritage conservation, while teaching tourists about the Haitian culture. MUPANAH is an institution whose function is the conservation, protection and enhancement of historical and cultural heritage.[4]

Collections and exhibits

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The museum traces Taíno culture, the history of the Spanish empire in Haiti, and a section dedicated to the heroes of Haitian independence, including the silver gun with which Henri Christophe committed suicide, and the bell used to announce Haitian independence. It also contains slavery chains, torture instruments, sculptures, and temporary exhibitions of paintings.[5]

Underneath the floor of the main hall lie the interred remains of the Founding Fathers of Haiti. Above them is a shaft of natural light that illuminates a golden monument in the shape of the cannons and banners of the Flag of Haiti. On the surrounding walls are written the names of the heroes of the Revolution.[3]

The museum also contains the rusted anchor of the flagship of Christopher Columbus, the Santa Maria, measuring 4 meters high.[5] You can also find here the black hat and cane that belonged to François Duvalier, a copy of the Code Noir, and the crown of the Haitian Emperor, Faustin Soulouque.[3]

History

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The National Pantheon Museum in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti was opened in 1983 during the presidency of Jean-Claude Duvalier. The First lady of Haiti, Michèle Bennett, was instrumental in its conception, inauguration and permanent collection. This cultural center is to perpetuate and disseminate the memory of "Fathers of the Nation".[6]

2010 earthquake

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In the year 2000, there were seven historical museums in Haiti. Most of them suffered irreparable damage dollowing the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.[7] However, the National Pantheon museum building was only slightly damaged due in part to its semi-buried construction, making it less prone to destruction.[8][7] By 2012, however, some damage was starting to show its signs; the marble was starting to wear.[7]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien.

References

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  1. ^ "Uncommon Caribbean - Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien: Uncommon Attraction". Uncommon Caribbean. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  2. ^ "Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien |". Alluring World. 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  3. ^ a b c "Musée du Panthéon National | Port-au-Prince & Around, Haiti | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  4. ^ "Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien | Fondation pour la memoire de l'esclavage". memoire-esclavage.org (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  5. ^ a b "Port – au – Prince". Alliance Haiti (in Haitian Creole). Archived from the original on August 26, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  6. ^ "Installation au Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien". Le Nouvelliste (in Haitian Creole). Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Musée du Panthéon National | Port-au-Prince & Around, Haiti | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  8. ^ Wegener, Corine (May 4–8, 2018). "Smithsonian – Haiti Conservation Team Report" (PDF). Retrieved January 17, 2019.

18°32′36″N 72°20′14″W / 18.54327°N 72.33722°W / 18.54327; -72.33722