Welcome to the National Museum of Colombia. Founded on July 28, 1823, it is the oldest in the country. Since its creation as a natural history museum and school of mines, its collections have been exhibited in different venues in Bogota. In 1948, the collections came to this building, formerly the Central Penitentiary of Cundinamarca, also known as the "Panopticon".

Today, the Museum houses collections of History, Art, Archaeology and Ethnography, the latter two in partnership with the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH).

The Museum has 17 permanent exhibition halls that offer a journey through the history of Colombia. In these rooms, visitors can learn about the social, economic, cultural and political issues that constitute the country's national identity. In addition, the Museum has a temporary exhibition hall, located on the first floor, where Colombian and foreign cultural manifestations are exhibited.

The Museum is currently undergoing a transformation process: a renovation project was launched in 2012 to change the chronological narrative of the permanent exhibition and provide a more inclusive look at the country's history. Therefore, some of the rooms have been temporarily closed or are now in the process of installation, while others offer a renewed vision of the nation thanks to exhibitions that allow for dialogue between the Museum’s different collections.

At the end of this tour of the rooms, we invite you to enjoy other areas of the Museum, such as its gardens, cafe, restaurant and auditorium, the latter boasting an extensive academic and cultural calendar.  We hope you enjoy your visit.