Nacional museam of Costa rica

The museum was very nice here. There is a central square in front of the museum and there is also fort that was used during the Civil War. The fort has holes in the walls, an eerie reminder of Costa Rica's past struggles.

I recommend that you find a local that is familiar with the museum to give you a tour. You pay for his entry plus a little extra. It is much cheaper than joining a museum provided tour, plus they have time for more individual questions. Also, be sure to ask about the eyes on the ceiling that follow you wherever you go - very amusing.

The museum not only showcases art, but it also contains much of Costa Rica's history. As you walk through the country's story is told. There are also perfectly spherical ancient stones, which nobody knows what they were used for.

Be sure to check out the butterfly garden. There are lots of different plant species, and an even higher variety of butterflies. This was my favorite part!

The nacional museam of costa rica, is one of the nicest apsects of San jose, built in the 19th century as a fort, it now holds most of the important treasures of Costa ricas colourful history.  The building once was the main headquaters to the army, and there are plenty of refrences to this in and around the building, for instance the buillt holes in the outside wall, a sad reminder of the 1948 civil war.
The museam itself is cheap to get into, only 3dollars, cheaper if a internationl student with card etc.  You can join a quided tour, which i do reconmend, as sadly the displays are mainly in espanyol... There are some great stone statues, which i thought were amazing, and lots of items ranging from pieces of gold, jewels, pots, bones,  and pre-colombian historys.  There is a very interesting video presentation of the struggle of aceptence of Nicaraguan ppl, which is very sad. and there is also a video presentation of the Civil war.  It was a very interesting museam, smaller than the ones you would see in London or Cairo, but still its very interesting from a outsider looking in on a new culture, so very much worth the visit. 
The courtyard of the museam overlooks the city, and you can take pictures safe, know you wont get your expensive camera stolen. 
Outside there is usually local Tico men selling postcards, at decent prices.