The Duarte Museum located at Calle Isabel la Católica in the Colonial City opened on the birthday of the founding father of the Dominican nationality, Juan Pablo Duarte on 26 January 2017. The renovations to the Duarte Institute, where a wax museum honoring Duarte is now open, was undertaken by the Presidency Office of Supervisory Works of the State (OISOE) under Francisco Pagán. The curator of the exhibition was Juan Gilberto Núñez.
The museum is divided in two sections. One section is dedicated to telling the life story of Duarte and the Duarte-Díez family in 13 full life size wax figures. A second section houses the Instituto Duartiano where the historic items it had previously are on display after being restored. Núñez says the intention of the museum is to tell Duarte’s life story and to provide highlights on his legacy.
The wax figures show Duarte at the time of his baptism, the arrival of the Haitians that dominated the country for 22 years, Duarte at nine years of age, his adolescence, when he leaves on a sailboat and his confrontation with the sailboat captain showing his bravery. Also presented are depictions of Duarte when he was teaching his friends what he learned abroad, the founding of the La Trinitaria society that served as the platform to promote the independence movement, his return to the nation once independence was restored, and the declaration of Duarte as founding father. Finally, the museum depicts the episode where Duarte renders accounts for his assignment to the army in the south, when he opposed the government board under Bobadilla that sought to annex the country to France.
Visitors are able to view a painting that shows the moment when Duarte leaves for exile, when he presents the restoration government and the episode of his death in Caracas, Venezuela.
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Listin Diario
27 January 2017
