DU in the DR

Centro León is the museum for national culture and history. It was build as a place to preserve the nations rich history as well as promote the visual arts. Located in Santiago we were told that the museum was founded by the same family that owns El Presidente, the most successful beer company in the Dominican Republic. We were fortunate with an excellent guide for a tour or the museum. Our group was first exposed to a fossilized motorbike. Our guide explained that Dominicans are proud of their history and heritage. The motorcycle, a significant part of Dominican lifestyle, is preserved in a special rock that is native to the country. This symbolizes how there are great efforts to recognize Dominican culture. The tour continues with consistently beautiful visual masterpieces that expose the true culture of the Dominican Republic. There are pieces that illuminate the significance of the original natives of the island, the effects of Spanish colonialism and active racism in the country. The museum tour, which is intentionally built into the beginning of the itinerary, provides a thorough preface of understanding that proves to be useful throughout the week abroad. Our guide instructed os on how tattoos are considered taboo, how Dominicans have a tendency to conceal their rich African heritage, and the inequality of men and women. The tour ends in a showroom with famous Dominican masterpieces.