Casa Museo General Gregorio Luperón
In June 2023, I visited Casa Museo General Gregorio Luperón (House Museum of General Gregorio Luperón) in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Earlier that day, I had visited the Dominican Amber Museum Experience just over a quarter mile (275 m) away. The museum is both the birthplace and deathplace of Gregorio Luperón. The exterior of the house is a beautiful seagreen, and the interior of the house is renovated to display exhibits and artifacts.
The tour guide enthusiastically described the accomplishments of Luperón, who lived during a tumultuous time in Dominican history. He was born on September 8, 1839, just over 184 years ago. His mother, Nicolasa du Perron, was a Black Caribbean immigrant who spoke English but had a French surname. She changed her surname to Luperón to sound more Spanish. His father was an absent White Dominican. Despite the family’s poverty, Luperón was precocious and became a manager at a local company when he was fourteen years old.
At the beginning of the Restoration in 1863, he was twenty-three years old and joined the fight at Santiago de los Caballeros. He quickly rose to the rank of general due to his innate understanding of military tactics. After the war, he served as Vice President of the Dominican for a few months in 1865 when he was still only twenty-five years old. A rival general, Buenaventura Báez, soon took power, and Luperón went into exile until 1878. Upon his return, he briefly served as President of the Dominican at age forty. Luperón was exiled again from 1888 to 1896. He was permitted to return home to die in his own bed on May 21, 1897 at age fifty-seven.
Today, the house is filled with curated clothing, furniture, and other artifacts from the time period, immersing visitors in this period of history. At the entrance to the museum, a pair of mannequins wearing 19th century everyday clothing greet the visitors. Elsewhere, visitors can view a formal dress, women’s spring wear, and a crib. In another room, mannequins display a formal suit and a military uniform based on the one worn by Luperón, complete with his signature hat. In the first room, the museum displays traditional kitchenware, including a large mortar-and-pestle and ceramic butter crocks. Other fascinating pieces included a spinet or miniature piano and the bed where Luperón died.
On the second story of the house, a long, red wall featured an old photograph of Luperón lying in his casket at his funeral with his quotes on patriotism, liberty, and justice surrounding the picture. Near the end of the tour, visitors see a parlor with more recent furniture and a large portrait of the modern Luperón family. Even with his busy career, Luperón found time to marry Ana Luisa Tavárez Frías in 1865 when she was fourteen years old, and they had two children while in exile. Frías lived until 1920, surviving her husband by twenty-three years
This fun tour was made even better with the skill of the guide. Fluent in English and Spanish, she gave added insights on artifacts and the building, along with translating signage as needed. My favorite bonus fact was that the second half of the building is not the original structure but a recent addition in a perfectly matching style to allow room for a cafe and community activities. Tickets are $200DR (under $4 USD) for adults and $100DR (under $2USD) for children. Casa Museo General Gregorio Luperón is a must-visit for anyone interested in Dominican history.
Abby Epplett’s Rating System
Experience: 9/10
Accessibility: 7/10