Accessibility

The history of Cozumel

Anna Miller Post a comment
The history of Cozumel

Museo de la Isla de Cozumel is filled with immersive experiences, artifacts, and exhibits that will teach you the history, ecology, and culture of the island.  Freshly renovated in 2020, this small museum was made to impress. There are listening stations, interactive kiosks, and displays in both Spanish and English. There is a private restaurant on the second floor overlooking the ocean and a theater that holds community events. 

  • Three masted wooden sailboat model on display. This would have been a huge sailboat similar to the way you might think of a old pirate ship. Medium dark wood. Cream fabric sails and sections of boat covered in green tiles roof. This piece is delicate and kept enclosed in glass cabinet at Museo de la Isla de Cozumel.
  • Sections of wall are glass display cases with metal diving helmets and a variety of dried coral inside. They are illuminated from inside. There is a large photographic sign with information about the coral.
  • Glass case built into a wall between two sections of the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel. This case has overhead lighting and has two styles of metal diving helmets surrounding with a variety of bleached corals.
  • Anna, a teen wheelchair user, is using an interactive touchscreen at the Cozumel Museum in Mexico. She is wearing a blue and white print tank top and has her hair pulled back into 2 blue scrunchies. The walls of this portion of the museum are clay colored or textured to appear like rough rock.

    • This museum is wonderful to visit as a wheelchair user.  There is a gradual ramp just to the right of the staircase entrance and while most of the traditional museum is on the first floor, there is an elevator for disabled access to the second floor Carnaval exhibit, restaurant, theater, restrooms, and art galleries. While the general restrooms have a raised floor entrance, there is a flat, barrier-free restroom for wheelchair use as well. Everything has enough space to accommodate any sort of chair.  

    • View of the first floor from above. Art is shown on the walls and a sculpture is on a white pedestal.
    • View from the front door and lobby of Museo de le Isla de Cozumel shows the grand staircase to the second floor and pieces of art on display on the first floor. There is a man visible from the back wearing a Cozumel staff long sleeve t-shirt. The museum logo is in aqua blue mounted to the wall above the stairs, so it is visible when you first enter the building.
    • The view of the ocean across the street from the museum, when looking out the open front doors. There is a man walking along the malecon and a tall palm blowing in the breeze. In the shadows inside the museum,, you can see a woman studying the art on the inside. The main entrance is an arch the width of 4 large doors. The side windows, doors and upper arch are all divided into smaller window panes with crisp white paint.
    • Front view of Museo de la Isla de Cozumel building and main entrance from across the street, oceanside. The ramp and handicap entrance is just to the right of the stairs leading to the main entrance. The front has decoartive but simple arches and the crest for Cozumel is over the decorative front doors. The second level railings are visible showing restaurant seating area. The road in front has a narrow median strip with two tall palm trees.

    My favorite parts are the simulated cenote and the exterior courtyard, which include displays that represent a traditional Mayan living arrangement. I love that every part has been designed for accessibility. It can be quite warm in Cozumel and this building is fully air-conditioned. I love visiting museums, so I have spent many warm afternoons here. I think you will enjoy it too.

  • Cream and net sculpture piece on display in the gallery portion of Museo de la Isla de Cozumel. Modern design,, almost freeform.
  • Manequins wearing actual Carnaval costumes on display in the second floor Cozumel Carnaval gallery. There is a video projected on a side wall that shows the history of Carnaval on the island. A men's elaborate white and pink outfit, a child's purple and red outfit and a woman's long yellow gown are shown.
  • Modern green sculpture of a sea creature/merman in gallery in Cozumel. He stands on a base of sand and leaves and holds a tropical fish in a hand.
  • Closeup bronze modern sculpture with a large painting shown mounted on a wall in the distance.
  • Several pieces of art on display on a wall with small descriptions below. They are all island themed. One is a group of swallows in flight against a blue sky.
  • Modern sculpture piece on display in the Cozumel museum gallery.
  • Tall modern sculpture on display in the gallery of Museo de la Isla de Cozumel.
  • Pentaptych of abstract green foliage with scattered pink flowers. This set of art in five pieces appears to be oil paint on canvas panels side by side. Small descriptive panel beneath.
  • Large deep green sculpture on display in the gallery of Cozumel museum. It appears to have barnacles growing on it.
  • Large and low wooden sculpture in the middle of a gallery room with several pieces of art displayed on the walls.
  • A large painting displayed on a wall. The art is done in gray and cream and appears roughly like a winged insect.
  • A large scale grouping of clay sculptural art pieces on a very low pedestal in the center of a room. There are several pieces of art on the walls surrounding it and they all have a nature theme with a lobster and seaweed depicted.
  • Large painting on a wall mostly done in brown tones. There is a large spider in the center with a web extending across the entire canvas. There are a variety of flying insects that appear trapped in the web.

    • Looking for the museum? The address is Av. Rafael E. Melgar 321-Planta Alta, entre calle 4 y 6 Norte, Centro, but it’s easy to spot right across from the water on the main road down the island!

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