Visitors to the National Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose get a double treat because the museum is housed in the former Army headquarters of Costa Rica, Fort Bellavista. Bellavista means "Beautiful View," and the view from the fort overlooking the city is beautiful indeed. My opening photographs for this San Jose page were taken from there.
As you approach the old fort you will notice that the sides are riddled with bullet holes, put there by those who wanted to overthrow the government during the revolution of 1948 and before. In front of the fort and in the courtyard you will see old cannons.
After the civil war, on December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer abolished the Costa Rican army. In a ceremony here at the Fort Bellavista, Figueres broke a wall with a mallet symbolizing the end of Costa Rica's military spirit.
The national budget previously used to support the military is now dedicated to security, education and culture; the country maintains Police Guard forces. Since 1986, Costa Rica has celebrated Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military abolition day), every year on Dec. 15. Unlike its neighbors, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war and has been the most peaceful country in all of Central America for more than half a century.
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