The 10 Best Museums in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Its internationally renowned collection comprises more than 5,000 works of art from various cultures, creating a unique dialogue between the Old and New Worlds.

Casa Paoli (English: Paoli House) is a historic house in barrio Cuarto, Ponce. The house is significant as the birthplace of Antonio Paoli (1871-1946), a tenor who was the "first Puerto Rican to reach international recognition in the performing arts" and "one of the most outstanding opera singers of all times". The house was the childhood home of the artist and he was introduced to art and opera at this house. In 1987, the house was turned into a museum to honor the career of Antonio Paoli. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

This loudly-colored building in black, red, green and yellow, was built for a volunteer fire-fighter's brigade.

Evoking the era of the sugar barons of Puerto Rico, this beautiful Spanish Revival mansion was built in 1930 for the Serrallés family, owners of the Don Q rum distillery.

Situated in a beautiful and architecturally significant building, this museum traces the city's history from pre-Columbian times to the present.

Carmen Sola de Pereira Ponce Cultural Center, founded in November 12, 1963, is the city's cultural center located in its historical zone. Many educational, art, and culture events can be hosted in this antique building. Each month, the center hosts "Noches de Galeria", a night dedicated to art expositions by artists from all over the island, especially Ponce.

Casa Armstrong Poventud was the first of its kind--it set the stage for the Ponce Creole architectural style that characterizes the area. It was designed by Manuel Domenech, a Puerto Rican architect, and belonged to Carlos Armstrong Toro, a well known merchant. It is located in the Ponce Historic Zone, right across the famous Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe cathedral. As of 1991, Casa Armstrong has been operating as a museum.

On a Sunday in 1937, a group of people from the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party began to march around the streets of Ponce, when suddenly, the local police authority opened fire. The event resulted in what is now known as the Ponce Massacre, and has impacted the lives of many poncenos for generations. The Ponce Massacre Museum commemorates this event. It displays pictures of various nationalist groups of the era and other historical facts. The museum also has a section dedicated to the life of Pedro Albizu Campos, one of the most important nationalist leaders of the time.

See a variety of Spanish, African and Indian musical instruments on display, as well as exhibits on beloved Puerto Rican musicians.