El Biomuseo: A Ten Year Dream

Texts and Photos: Javier A. Pinzón

Scientists, architects, and civic leaders came together nearly 25 years ago to pursue a dream: building a great museum that would tell the story of the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, which created a land bridge that united two continents, changed ocean currents, and forever transformed life on Earth.

Since my daughter first discovered it, the Biomuseo has often been our weekend refuge. We purchased a family membership and we have repeatedly explored every corner of the museum together, absorbing its fascinating narrative. The exhibits take us through an amazing history, starting when the Isthmus of Panama began to emerge from the sea, millions of years ago, and continuing as it created a land bridge that united two continents, changed ocean currents, and forever transformed life on Earth. Aaron O’Dea’s book, Martina and the Bridge of Time, and the Biomuseo have filled my child’s mind with curiosity and won-der. “It all started,” she repeats, “when Panama was just a deep ocean full of life.”

But today’s Biomuseo cannot be fully understood without an awareness of the history of the scientists who explored Panama long before the museum was built. The discoveries on display in the museum started to come to light in 1910, when the Smithsonian Institute -headquartered in Washington D.C.- began its first studies in Panama. The goal at the time was to study the environmental impact of the construction of the Panama Canal on forests. It was one of the first major initiatives to explore tropical biodiversity.

In the 1970s, scientists began to discover another fascinating facet of Panama’s geological history. They began to realize that this thin strip of land had risen from the ocean millions of years after the rest of the Americas, triggering a series of events that had global implications; its effects on Earth’s history are so profound that they continue to fascinate researchers around the world.

When Panama finally emerged from the bottom of the sea three million years ago, it connected North and South America forever, leading to huge migrations and an exchange of species that laid the foundations for the region’s enormous biodiversity.

Land Bridge: A Dividing of the Seas

When Panama finally emerged from the bottom of the sea three million years ago, it connected North and South America forever, leading to huge migrations and an exchange of species that laid the foundations for the region’s enormous biodiversity.

But above all, the rise of the Isthmus of Panama altered ocean currents, affecting the climate in places as far away as Europe, Greenland, and East Africa The scientific community sees this as one of the most significant geological events of the last 60 million years.

The impact on Africa’s climate transformed the ecosystems and environment of our ancestors. The grasslands expanded, forcing early hominids like Australopithecus to adapt to a more open environment, which influenced the development of walking and motor skills. This adaptation was also responsible for an increase in brain capacity. marking a crucial step in the evolution of the Homo genus. The emergence of the Isthmus of Panama not only connected two continents, it also indirectly drove the evolution of our species

The discoveries exhibited in the museum began to be unveiled in 1910, when the Smithsonian Institute initiated its first studies on Panamanian soil.

The Dream of Building a Musuem

Although this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Biomuseo building, the idea of telling this wonderful story in a museum arose 25 years ago, when the canal lands completely reverted to Panamanian control. At that crucial moment, Dr. Hana Ayala introduced a revolutionary economic model for several of the region’s territories that was based on tourism, conservation, and research (or TCl, for its Spanish acronym). She envisioned a virtuous cycle in which the conservation of Panama’s natural and cultural heritage and research and knowledge-based tourism would nourish each other. The idea was clear: to preserve, research, and share knowledge of Panama’s rich ecosystem with the world.

Inspired by this idea, several renowned architects came to Panama to discuss the the country’s conservation and development future. Nicolás Barletta, head the Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI) at the time, suggested celebrating the return of Fort Sherman to Panama with a highly symbolic architectural icon. The country invited Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, the husband of Panamanian Berta Isabel Aguilera, originally from Antón, to participate. Gehry accepted, but requested a master plan.

The plan, drawn up by architects Patrick and Kurt Dillon and Alvaro Uribe, included construction of three structures in Sher-man, Colón, and the Amador Causeway. The overly ambitious plan was never realized, but the Amador Foundation arranged a meeting between Frank Gehry and scientist Tony Coates, who was a paleontologist and former deputy director of the Smith-sonian. The meeting was crucial: Coates told Gehry the story of the rise of the Isthmus of Panama and how it connected and transformed the world. Gehry was fascinated and committed to telling that story through the architecture of a biodiversity museum.

The museum tells in a extraordinary way the geological history of the zone and the origin of Panama’s biodiversity

This is how Amador, an area that once housed a U.S. military base, became the site of a new educational facility. The museum, with its striking design, is a unique architectural work. Gehry abandoned his characteristic monochromatic style to reflect the exuberance of the tropics, drawing inspiration from Panama’s flora and fauna. The vibrant colors symbolize the country’s rich biodiversity. The walls were painted with a sun* and rain-resistant paint, designed to maintain its shine for years. The roofs painted using automotive technology- are made from sheets so large that they would cover an entire football field if lined up.

Ten rooms and a single story

From the moment you enter the central atrium — a raised, open-air structure covered by irregular-shaped roofs and supported by steel columns and beams- you know you are somewhere special. From the atrium you can see the ocean and the city on one side, and the Panama Canal and tropical forest on the other. The atrium symbolizes Panama’s role as a bridge between North and South America and reminds us that the real world is out there, waiting to be explored.

Although we have visited the museum many times, we’re always ready to return. The Biomusco is my daughter’s play-ground, a place where she can imagine a thousand Martina-style adventures, while learning that the biodiversity that defines Panama is also an essential part of our identity.

The museum tells the extraordinary story of the region’s geological history and the origins of Panama’s biodiversity. Scientists like Tony Coates, Ira Rubinoff, and Christian Samper collaborated with the University of Panama to create the narrative told by the Biomuseo. Canadian designer Bruce Mau developed the theoretical content of the permanent exhibitions and the following rooms were designed: The Biodiversity Showcase, Panamarama, The Surge Bridge, The Great Exchange. The Human Footprint, Divided Oceans, The Living Network, Panama is the Museum, and Birds Without Borders.

Location: 15 minutes from the city center, 5.5 miles along Avenida de los Martires.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday
from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m.

Tariff: residents: from US$10. non residents:
from US$20