Bogota’s Military Museum is a shrine to Colombia’s armed forces, putting on display a host of military relics from the nation’s internal conflict and military campaigns abroad.
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The collection is housed in a historic building designed in the post-independence “Republican” style. It is a strangely beautiful setting for a collection that tells such a violent story, depicted through picturesque courtyards filled with military weaponry.
Keen to leaving a good lasting impression on tourists, personnel from the armed forces welcome guests with the utmost politeness and usher them through to the first room, the “Salon Independencia.” Here the history of Colombia’s 1819 independence is told through the eyes of the participating military, with cannonballs and bayonets placed alongside a period uniform and memorabilia from famed liberator Simon Bolivar.
Next is the army room, displaying Colombia’s military history. Campaign medals and weaponry are accompanied with photos from historic operations. A cannon dated 1897 that was used in Colombia’s “Thousand Days’ War,” a bloody civil conflict that took place 1899 to 1902 between the conservative and liberal parties is on display front and center. The room also boasts uniforms dating from 1951 onwards, placed in chronological order, showing the armed forces’ technological innovations, from simple fatigues to modern day anti-terrorist gear. Included in the collection are Colombian uniforms from the Korean war.
In the next room, Colombia’s air force takes pride of place. Highlights here include motors and propellers from old planes dating from as far back as the start of the 20th century. Colombia’s aviation history is told from the beginning, with memorabilia from the country’s first flight school, set up in Tolima 1919. Technological advancements are the word of the day, with models of planes from different eras on display along with a flight simulator dating from 1946.
Visitors can then make their way to the armada room, and immerse themselves in naval history. This room should be a favorite among children, with its exhibit of baffling technological advancements, like the workings of homing missiles, placed alongside divers’ suits that look like they came from a James Bond movie and a fish tank with Colombia’s naval history superimposed on the glass. History buffs can admire a handwritten operations’ diary belonging to the “Cartagena” river flotilla who were active in the war against Peru from 1932 to 1933.
Armed forces enthusiasts will enjoy the weapons room, which displays dozens of firearms, from non-military handguns to a variety of Kalashnikovs. Stepping outside into the courtyard, visitors can marvel at a host of military heavy weaponry, from disused tanks to helicopters and planes.
Colombia’s participation in the Korean war, though not often acknowledged, is enshrined in its own room. Campaign maps, weapons and flags are included. Harrowing photography brings home the horror and true cost of war, a needed contrast to previous rooms which hover precariously on the line between historical preservation and glorification.
The Military Museum is located on Calle 10 in Bogota’s historic Candelaria. Entrance is free.