Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura
Encyclopedia
Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura (Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture) is a science and culture museum
complex in Costa Rica
. Located in a fortress-like building that once served as the central penitentiary between 1910 and 1979, the center was inaugurated in 1994. It contains a number of important institutions including the National Auditorium, the Museo de los Niños
, the National Gallery and a number of others.
administration leaving the building empty and abandoned for several years. In 1991, the then First Lady Gloria Bejarano Almada, wife of President Rafael Ángel Calderón
, created Fundación Ayudanos para Ayudar ("Help Us to Help Foundation" in English), to promote the Center's creation, which was inaugurated on April 27, 1994. Some sections of the building such as the facade
and the walls of the west wing were proclaimed historical and architectural heritage of Costa Rica
in 1988. The Center's stated mission is to strengthen education and promote the national scientific and technological development.
) is an interactive museum that focuses on the education and entertainment of kids of all ages. It was inaugurated in 1994 as part of the Center and forms the best-known part of it.
, satellite communications, possibility for simultaneous translations in up to four languages and 526 seats. The auditorium has hosted several concerts of classical music, literary contests, beauty contests, audiovisuals, conferences, seminars, scientific and cultural congresses, and theater productions.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
complex in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. Located in a fortress-like building that once served as the central penitentiary between 1910 and 1979, the center was inaugurated in 1994. It contains a number of important institutions including the National Auditorium, the Museo de los Niños
Museo de los Niños
The Museo de los Niños is a children's museum, located at the Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura complex in the capital of San José, Costa Rica. It contains notable interactive displays educating children in various topics from Astronomy and the natural planet and ecology to science,...
, the National Gallery and a number of others.
History
The Center was established in the building that housed the old Central Penitentiary, which itself was founded in 1909 and was open for 70 years. This penitentiary was closed in 1979 by Rodrigo Carazo'sRodrigo Carazo Odio
Rodrigo José Ramón Francisco de Jesús Carazo Odio served as President of Costa Rica from 8 May 1978 to 8 May 1982.Carazo was born in 1926 in Cartago...
administration leaving the building empty and abandoned for several years. In 1991, the then First Lady Gloria Bejarano Almada, wife of President Rafael Ángel Calderón
Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier
Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier served as President of Costa Rica from 1990 to 1994. He was the presidential candidate of the Social Christian Unity Party for the national elections held in February 2010, but resigned his candidacy on 5 October 2009, when he was sentenced to five years in prison...
, created Fundación Ayudanos para Ayudar ("Help Us to Help Foundation" in English), to promote the Center's creation, which was inaugurated on April 27, 1994. Some sections of the building such as the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
and the walls of the west wing were proclaimed historical and architectural heritage of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
in 1988. The Center's stated mission is to strengthen education and promote the national scientific and technological development.
Museo de los Niños
Museo de los Niños (literally "Children's Museum" in SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) is an interactive museum that focuses on the education and entertainment of kids of all ages. It was inaugurated in 1994 as part of the Center and forms the best-known part of it.
National Auditorium
The National Auditorium was conceived as a stage for all art forms. It has a lighting system, an acoustic shell, an orchestra pitOrchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
, satellite communications, possibility for simultaneous translations in up to four languages and 526 seats. The auditorium has hosted several concerts of classical music, literary contests, beauty contests, audiovisuals, conferences, seminars, scientific and cultural congresses, and theater productions.