Constructed in the late 19th century, when San Jose's population was only around 19,000 people, the theatre presented many private performances. Its only real competition was the
Teatro Mora (also called the Municipal Theatre, or
Teatro Municipal), that existed for many years before the National Theatre, until it was destroyed and deemed unsafe by an earthquake. To finance the construction of a theatre suitable for name "National Theatre", the
President of Costa Rica,
José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón decided to place a tax on coffee, then the principal export product. Later, one
coffee planter begged the government to remove the export tax on his product and put it on
rice and
beans (also principal export products of the time). There were many problems during the early period of construction. However, the construction errors were corrected by an Italian engineer who was brought in to direct the process. It took seven years to finish the theatre, and the inauguration took place on 21 October 1897. The front of the theatre features statues of
Calderón de la Barca and
Ludwig van Beethoven. There are several monuments by the entry walkway including
Frédéric Chopin. The inside features the
mural Allegory of Coffee and Bananas by Milanese artist
Aleardo Villa, which is featured on the five
colón bill. On 13–14 November 1998, the
OTI Festival 1998 was staged at the theatre. ==The theatre today==