Panama, September 17, 2025. - The Ministry of Culture reported that the restoration work of the Reina Torres de Araúz Anthropological Museum (MARTA) reached a 42.13% advance after an inspection by Minister María Eugenia Herrera with his technical equipment. The contract cession, established in April of this year, allowed the company Centroequipos, S.A. to re-start the works paralyzed since March 2023.

The project includes the complete restoration of the historic building, which worked as the old station of the Transimeter Railway, as well as the construction of a new maintenance building for the collection of the museum and urbanization of the environment with a state investment of B / .19.4 million.

The work currently under way includes an architectural and structural recovery of the property, an upgrade of electrical and mechanical systems, reconstruction of interiors and exterior walls, cylindrics, paving and walls as well as restoration of carpentry and attrition. Two rooms have been set up for permanent exhibitions, two temporary and an auditorium, cafes and memory and service and load elevators.

During the tour, the Minister visited the terrace, and will become an open space of more than 500 square meters for the enjoyment of visitors. At the same time, the construction of a new residential building with two seedling plants, accompanied by landscape and urbanization of the outside areas that will enhance the beauty of the original architecture of the building.

"The restoration of the anthropological museum Reina Torres de Araúz is a commitment to our historic memory and to the legacy of Dr. Reina Torres de Araúz. That project will give back to the country a space of knowledge, creativity and community meeting that strengthens our cultural identity and contributes to the reconstruction of the social fabric," emphasized the Minister of Culture.

A Retiring Legacy

The building that houses the MARTA was built in 1912 and opened in 1913, under an American federal style design. The building operated as a station until 1960. In 1976, the Panamanian anthropologist Reina Torres de Araúz moved to this place the creation of the Panamanian Man's Museum, renamed in 1983 in his honor.

Declared a national historic monument for its architectural, historic and artistic value, it remained open as a museum and was visited by nationals and foreigners up to 2013, as it closed its doors to the public to start the rehabilitation process, which was re-established.
by 2020 with the vision of reopening Reina Torres de Araúz Anthropological Museum as a cultural and economic dynamic centre.

The museum's collection includes pieces of goldsmith, ceramics, lytics and ethnographic objects, that report the cultural history of the isthmus through rooms dedicated to goldsmith, the archaeology of the different Panamanian cultural regions (Gran Chiriquí, Gran Darién, Gran Coclé) and the ethnographic wealth of the country.

With the restoration of the Reina Torres de Araúz Anthropological Museum (MARTA), the National Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring citizens's access to quality cultural spaces, strengthening Panamanian identity and projecting culture as an engine for human, social and economic development.