Within the framework of the national and international event “Long Night of Museums,” the Altos de Chavón Regional Archaeological Museum opened its doors on Saturday night, May 17th, to offer the public an unforgettable cultural experience under the theme “Under the Stars.”.
The activity marked the first day open to the public under the new museum management, headed by Ms. Luciana Goldfain, manager of Altos de Chavón and director of the Archaeological Museum, who welcomed visitors, expressing her enthusiasm for this renewed phase. In her opening remarks, she highlighted the importance of this event as part of a movement that celebrates heritage and history from multiple cultural spaces in the country.
The evening began with a nocturnal guided tour led by the museum's guide, Mr. Diógenes Alcalá, who led the audience on a tour set to ancestral sounds of maracas, conch shells, and Taino ritual chants, creating an immersive atmosphere that transported attendees to pre-Columbian times.
The moment most anticipated by visitors was the clay workshop, led by local artisans Damar Castaños and José Tiburcio. Participants had the opportunity to mold their own pieces inspired by Taíno art, while admiring the recently renovated museum garden. Simultaneously, the youngest attendees enjoyed a space specially designed for them: a Taíno stamp workshop and a miniature archaeological exploration zone, equipped with helmets, shovels, and magnifying glasses, guided by the services representative, Emily Ávila.
The experience continued in the museum's Taíno hall, set with sounds of nocturnal animals like owls, bats, fireflies, and crickets, which complemented the narrative about the nocturnal life of the Taíno indigenous people. Visitors could explore replicas of bohíos, observe traditional hammocks, and learn about rituals such as the areíto, in a sensory experience that connected history, nature, and culture.
Additionally, during the activity, the museum's new shop was enabled in pop-up mode, which will be permanently open starting next month. It will also feature an audio guide before the end of the year. In the shop, visitors could purchase replicas of Taíno artifacts, magnets, postcards, and other souvenirs that celebrate the museum's cultural richness.
The night closed with joy, amid photographs with owls, children's laughter, and the creativity of adults who captured their art in clay, leaving an unforgettable imprint of this magical day. Mrs. Goldfain thanked the public for their enthusiastic participation, highlighting the commitment of the Altos de Chavón team in continuing to promote ancestral culture in an inclusive, creative, and educational manner.
Culture as a Right: Long Night of Museums 2025
The participation of the Altos de Chavón Regional Archaeological Museum is part of the national celebration organized by the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Museums, which held a new edition of the Long Night of Museums from May 16 to 18 under the theme “Now for Equity.”.
More than 30 museums, both state-run and private, in cities such as Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Vega, San Rafael del Yuma, and La Romana, offered free access to special programming that included performances, workshops, lectures, children's activities, and guided tours. This initiative, inspired by the model that originated in Berlin in 1997, seeks to make culture an accessible space for everyone, reaffirming that culture is not a luxury, but a right.
About the Altos de Chavón Regional Archaeological Museum
Inaugurated in 1981, the Altos de Chavón Regional Archaeological Museum houses a collection of over 3,000 archaeological pieces that illustrate the cultural evolution of the island's indigenous peoples from 4000 BC to 1502 AD, when the conquest of the Higüey cacicasgo concluded.
The museum's mission is to preserve and disseminate archaeological heritage, while promoting sustainable initiatives with social impact, fostering values such as equality, solidarity, and community empowerment.