Marikina Shoe Museum in Manila - Philippines

If you are looking for tourist attractions in Metro Manila besides the usual ones at Manila and Makati, you can go to the Marikina Shoe Museum. Despite the name, there is more to it than just looking at shoes.

The history of the Marikina Shoe Museum began in the early 1860s when the Spaniards decided to build a storage facility for their armaments in the area. At the conclusion of the Philippine-American War, the place served as a jail for captured Filipino fighters and soldiers. It was not until 1998 that the concept of a museum for shoes took hold, leading to the opening in 2001.

Among the collections in the Marikina Shoe Museum are those worn and owned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos. There are also several footwear on display that have been worn by dignitaries, Senators, members of the House of Congress and local officials. Also to be seen are the footwear worn by peoples in other nations, and there are also unique shoes that were designed by the residents of the city.

There are also dioramas explaining how shoes are made, and how this industry became a focal and important enterprise in the early history of the city. The Marikina Shoe Museum also features several photographs of its more famous shoes such as those worn by the former First Lady during the tenure of her husband former President Marcos in Malacanang.

The Marikina Shoe Museum is located at J.P. Rizal Street in Marikina. It is open from Mondays to Sundays from eight in the morning until 5 in the afternoon with a lunch break from 12 noon till 1:00 PM. The admission fee is 20 Php per individual.

If you are coming from Manila one approach would be to take a jeepney, bus or taxi to Magsaysay Avenue and go straight until you get to Katipunan Avenue Quezon City. You will come across several public utility vehicles there. Just ask to be taken to J.P. Rizal in Marikina and you will get to the Marikina Shoe Museum. The total cost of transport if you opt for jeepney or bus will be 30 Php (for one way). The taxi will be around 500 to 600 Php.

The Marikina Shoe Museum, it should now be clear, is more than just a repository for shoes and footwear, but it is also a cultural landmark as well as a reminder of how one industry helped revitalize a city and the community.