After more than 10 years of planning, the House of Panama opened its doors in Balboa Park on Aug. 14, 2022.

The House of Panama is a member of the House of Pacific Relations. The cottage and museum officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cultural festival.

This new cottage will provide San Diegans with a window into the traditions and customs of the Panamanian community living in San Diego. Numerous community leaders, elected officials and international dignitaries including State Senate President Pro tem Toni G. Atkins, Assembly member Chris Ward and Ms. Gilda Garcia, Consul General of Panama to the U.S. attended this community event.

Sen. Atkins said, “Panama City and San Diego – sister cities – share a rich history dating back to the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 and continuing today. The opening of the House of Panama cottage is another milestone in that relationship.”

In 2015, the City of San Diego celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the CaliforniaPanama Exposition that was hosted in Balboa Park in 1915 celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal. Balboa Park was built for the occasion.

Dorotea Lindsay, the president House of Panama stated, “This is a wonderful day for San Diegans and the Panamanian community. Members of the House of Panama have worked on this project for over seven years. We would like to thank the many supporters and donors that made this dream a reality.”