MUPANAH Museum

The Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien opened in 1983 on the Champ de Mars and is built almost entirely below ground, with a low sculpted roof above and daylight coming down into the galleries. It holds the objects the country's history is told through: Taíno material, the anchor recovered and identified as belonging to the Santa María, the crown and pistols of Henri Christophe, and the tombs of the founders. The building itself is one of the more interesting pieces of modern architecture in the capital.

What you actually see

• The underground galleries - the museum built below the square, lit from above.
• The Santa Maria anchor - the anchor recovered from the northern coast and long identified with the ship.
• The Christophe regalia - the crown and personal objects of Henri Christophe.
• The Taino collection - pre-Columbian material from across the island.

When to go

Year round, since it is indoors and cool. Mornings are quietest. Opening hours vary and public holidays close it, so it is worth checking on the day.

Honest expectations

It is small and two hours covers it comfortably. Labelling is mostly in French and there is little English interpretation. Photography inside is not allowed. The Santa Maria attribution of the anchor is traditional rather than proven.

Nearby

The Champ de Mars is outside the door, and the gingerbread districts are up the hill.