Museo de las Casas Reales Alcázar de Colón Museo Del Hombre Dominicano Museo Nacional de Historia y Geografia Museo de Larimar Museo de la Familia Dominicana del Siglo XIX Museo de las Casas Reales (Museum of the Royal Houses) Calle Las Damas, Santo Domingo Phone: (809) 682-4202 Hours: Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily Once the 16th century governor's Supreme Court, this museum documents Santo Domingo's rich history with tapestries, maps and other artifacts from 1492 to 1821. Alcázar de Colón (Castle of Columbus) Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo Phone: (809) 686-8657 Hours: Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday This palace, including artifacts from the Columbus family, was built in the 1500's by Christopher's son, Diego and his wife. br> Insider's tip: Following a tour of Alcazar de Colon, venture out onto the Alcazar strip of restaurants and shops to enjoy delicious local fare and atmosphere. Museo Del Hombre Dominicano (Museum of the Dominican Man) Plaza de la Cultura, Santo Domingo Phone: 809-686-2145 Set in the Plaza de la Cultura, this museum is reputed to have the country's best collection of pre-Columbian artifacts including jewelry, religious pieces and sculptures. A favorite exhibit explains the effects of African slavery with displays of voodoo artifacts and carnival costumes. Museo Nacional de Historia y Geografia (Museum of History and Geography) Plaza de la Cultura, Santo Domingo Phone: 809-686-2145 Hours: Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday This museum contains a thorough collection of artifacts that contributed to the country's historical timeline. Displays highlight the DR's first inhabitants, American occupation and interaction with Haiti. Museo de Larimar(Museum of Larimar) 54 Calle Isabel la Catolica, Santo Domingo Phone: 809-689-6605 Hours: Open 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday This new museum explains the island's mining and jewelry industry. Exhibits demonstrate the extraction, shaping and jewelry-making processes of larimar. Museo de la Familia Dominicana del Siglo XIX (Museum of the Dominican Family of the 19th Century) Casa de Tostado, Calle Arzobispo Merino, Santo Domingo Hours Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday Built in 1503, this colonial mansion exhibits artifacts and personal belongings of a 19th century well-to-do Santo Domingo family. While its contents are intriguing, the best part of the museum is the house itself, which has the only double Gothic window in North or South America.