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FRONT GATE [photo courtesy of Allan Hawkins]

The Panamanian Foreign Ministry relocated to Building 88 (Montague Hall) at Quarry Heights in 1998 from its earlier temporary site in Building 1 at Fort Amador. In October 2003, the Foreign Ministry moved to its permanent location in the Casco Viejo -- old colonial section -- of Panama City following renovation of the large building, which for years has occupied by the Bolivar Institute and was the site of the Amphictyonic Congress of the Americas in 1826 convoked by Simon Bolivar.)  That building is one of 46 sites in Panama selected in 1997 by UNESCO as national patrimony sites.) There has been no indication, as of August 2004, of who will be the future occupants of Building 88 or the several other buildings at Quarry Heights (noted below) previously occupied by the Foreign Ministry. Some remodeling of the building 88 occurred beginning in November 2004.

Montague Hall (Building 88) -- from 1998 to November 2003 it was the seat of Panama's Foreign Ministry after it had moved from its earlier temporary location in Building 1 at Fort Amador.    [US Army Photo by Army South DEH 1999]

 

In addition to Building 88, the Foreign Ministers also occupied buildings 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 83, 84, 86, 88, 94, 95, 96, 97, 101 and 150 (for a total value of $2,809,392 when transferred to the Foreign Ministry).       The Panamanian government originally planned for Quarry Heights to become a diplomatic city; however, that did not materialize. Only the Nicaraguan Embassy took up residence there (quarters 16), which also serves as the embassy.  Consequently, houses there were put up for public auction to individual buyers.       Quarry Heights Officers Club and Guest Quarters (building 119) was scheduled (as publicly announced in 2002) to be converted into Casa Caribe as the diplomatic site of 15 Caribbean nations (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guyana, Monserrat, Saint Lucia, Suriname, San Vicente and the Granadinas, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Granada). As of mid-2004 apparently nothing had developed with this project and Building 119 remains unoccupied as of November 2004.

 

The tunnel, under the Panama's National Security Council, is used as a communications center and National Intelligence Center as part of the Strategic Plan of National Security developed by the Panamanian government and announced in December 1999.

  

The former Chalet (Building 153), located on the upper level of Quarry Heights, now houses ANCON (National Association for the Preservation of Nature -- in Spanish Asociación Nacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza) -- appropriate location for ANCON since the upper part of Ancon Hill is protected as a forest preserve by the Panamanian government.

Building 153 now houses ANCON, National Association for the Preservation of Nature  [Photo courtesy of Allan Hawkins, Nov 2004]

 

QUARTERS 1 (former Commander in Chief's residence) has been operated by the Ministry of the Presidencia as a guest house for foreign dignitaries invited by the President of Panama (ARI's price .516,704.00).        RENOVATED AND NEW HOUSES  (Photos below by Bob Medinger/Colin Creel from their website www.panamavacationquarters.com used with permission)

Quarters 2 renovated

New house - replaced Quarters 10

LA ESTANCIA (renovated former quarters 35 on the upper ledge) rents rooms and fully furnished apartments available for short stays.  For details go to: www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com/ .