Museographic Galleries
UPPER FLOOR
Prominent Figures:
Guillermo Sánchez Borbón
Known by his pen name Tristán Solarte, he was a distinguished writer and journalist from Bocas del Toro. An author of novels, poetry, and essays, he gained worldwide recognition for his masterpiece, the novel The Drowned Man (El Ahogado).
Dr. José A. Price
A humanist physician and Afro-Panamanian politician, Dr. Price lived and served in Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro, during the Republican era.
Michael Theodore Snyder
An American banana industry entrepreneur who operated in Bocas del Toro in the late 19th century. He founded the Snyder Brother Banana Company and built the Snyder Canal in 1903 to facilitate the transport of bananas to cargo ships.
Luis Carlos Russell
A composer and orchestra leader born on Isla Carenero. He moved to New Orleans, USA, where he became a prominent figure and significantly contributed to the development of Jazz and Swing.
León Tay Chock
A prominent Chinese merchant within the community of Isla Colón and Almirante. He was known for his altruism and deep commitment to serving in the charitable institutions where he worked.
James Chong
A great entrepreneur of Chinese origin involved in large-scale commercial activities. He traded coastal goods and managed wholesale and retail warehouses during the United Fruit Company’s banana boom across Isla Colón, Almirante, and Changuinola.
Clyde Stephens
A scholar, author, and historian, Stephens was a former official of the United Fruit Company. Working as an entomologist, he made significant contributions to pest and insect control in banana plantations.
Marcus M. Garvey
A Jamaican Pan-Africanist leader and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). A staunch defender of Afro-descendant rights, he arrived in Bocas del Toro in 1911, leaving a lasting impact on the region’s social movement.
We invite you to visit the Hou Wang Museum Galleries
to explore these historical narratives in full.
Past Eras
Explore images from the past featured across our galleries,
each complete with its own historical narrative.
We invite you to visit the Hou Wang Museum Galleries
to explore these historical narratives in full.
Hou Wang Altar
UPPER FLOOR
The Hou Wang Altar is one of the oldest symbols of the Chinese presence in Bocas del Toro, brought from Kowloon, China, at the beginning of the 20th century.
Dedicated to the patron saint Hou Wang Kun, the deity provided the Chinese immigrants with protection in distant lands, strength in the face of hardship, and a profound sense of community unity. It became a spiritual, social, and cultural cornerstone within the historical development of the island.
Step inside the Museum to explore the legacy of the Saint Hou Wang, tracing his ancient origins and the historic voyage that led him to his home in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
Auditorium
GROUND FLOOR
This space functions as an event hall and is dedicated to hosting debates, meetings, and forums (conversations), promoting dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and cultural reflection.
Visit Us
Visit Hours
Tuesday to Sunday
11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Phone Numbers:
6722 8488 / 6671 4724
Admission Fee
National Visitors:
$3.00
International Visitors:
$8.00
Location
Calle Primera, Isla Colón Bocas del Toro, Panamá.