Our Museum
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The Museum is housed in what was formerly the Christian Mission Church built by Barbadian workers in the year 1910

The West Indian history is kept alive in part by the Afro-Caribbean Museum.  The Museum is housed in what was formerly the Christian Mission Church, which was built in El Marañón, Calidonia, by Barbadian workers in the year 1910.

It is a wooden structure that reflects a Caribbean style of architecture, and there is only one main exhibit space that contains historic photographs and domestic items that portray the history and living conditions of the West Indian immigrants who began migrating to Panama for the construction of the railroad in 1850 and later arrived in greater numbers for the construction of the Panama Canal in the first two decades of the twentieth century.

Venue

December 22, 1980

The West Indian Museum of Panama was inaugurated by the Panamanian government as a tribute to the West Indian immigrants who came to Panama to…

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Venue

January 3,1910

This Museum occupies the building which at one time was the Christian Mission Church which was built in El Marañón, Calidonia, by Barbadian workers. It…

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Venue

May 3, 2018

The Afro Antillean Museum reopened after six months of internal and external remodeling initiating the celebration of the Month of the Black ethnicity and commemorating…

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Our goal is to make sure the contributions of tens of thousands of laborers from Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands aren’t forgotten.

Panama’s black population is approximately 14 percent which represents 460,977 Afro-descendants living mainly in Panama City, Colon City and Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro. They have preserved their ancients customs and traditions which adds to the mojo of Panama which has become a melting pot of different ethnic groups from around the world.

Among the exhibits at the museum are a model of the overcrowded rooming houses occupied by black laborers in the Caledonia and El Chorillo neighborhoods, the medicinal herbs they used to try to cure themselves and mock-ups of a bedroom and kitchen typical of laborers’ modest homes.

Facilities: Bathrooms, parking, guided visits, small showcase of books and souvenirs, and a small library

Location: The Museum is located in the Calidonia area of the City of Panama, 24th Street East and Justo Arosemena Avenue.

SAMAAP Meetings: Saturdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the office of the Museum

Entry fee: Adults and Tourists B/1.00, retirees and university students, B/. 75, students B/.25

Our Mission Statement

SAMAAP (The Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama) is a civic non-profit organization, which has as its objectives to support and raise funds for the maintenance and extension of the work of the West Indian Museum of Panama. In addition, the organization is also dedicated to supporting and sponsoring activities that contribute to the social and cultural development of the community and feature the best aspects of afro-Caribbean culture.

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