This peculiar building was initially designed as a prison by the English architect Thomas Reed. It became a museum in 1948 after some internal reconstruction. The exhibits, displayed on three floors, range from pre-Columbian artifacts to contemporary art. The ground floor has a display of archeology and ethnography and numerous artifacts that represent the culture of pre-Columbian societies. The first floor exhibits paintings, furniture and many other objects from the colonial and independence periods. The second floor focuses on the art works of the best-known Colombian painters, such as Botero, Obregón and Grau. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions of well-known international and national artists. For a pleasant respite, take a seat in the cafe opposite the bookshop and enjoy a cup of Colombian coffee while looking through some of the fine art books on display.