Like all national histories, the story of Puerto Rico, as told in the permanent exhibition "Conquest and Colonization," has its bright and dark sides. It is a story of poverty, suffering, and perseverance despite everything, but also of courage and creativity.

The exhibition Conquest and Colonization: Birth and Evolution of the Puerto Rican Nation It consists of six exhibition halls that present various topics, including the arrival of the Spanish to the island and their encounter with Taino society, Columbus' voyages, the development of the economy, evangelization, architecture, attacks by the Dutch, French and English on the island, and the contribution of the Taino, African and Spanish cultures to Puerto Rican society.