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Palacio de las Garzas (Herons' Palace) is the governmental residence of the President of Panama during his/her mandate. It receives its name because herons were brought in in 1922 by President Belisario Porras at the suggestion of friend and famed Panamanian poet Ricardo MiroArticle on herons at Panamanian newspaper La Prensa. The interior courtyard that serves as vestibule was then remodeled in the style of an Andalusian courtyard and the herons roam the courtyard freely.
The residence is located in the Old Quarter of Panama City (Casco Viejo) which was built after the old city was destroyed just prior and during the sacking by pirate Henry Morgan. It has served as the residence and main office for all Panamanian presidents except for the last three (Martin Torrijos, Mireya Moscoso, and Ernesto Perez Balladares) who have chosen to keep their residences elsewhere in the city and commute to the Palace.
Some of its famous rooms include the Salon Amarillo (Yellow Room) where most formal events are held, and the Moorish Room. This room was added in 1922 when the most extensive renovations to the building took place under the supervision of architect Leonardo Villanueva Meyer. Works included the Andalusian courtyard, the addition of a third floor and two towers. The Moorish room is located in one of these towers. An elevator was added in 1934 for a State visit by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt so that he could access the chambers where he was to stay. Webpage of Panamanian Scholar Alonso Roy on the Presidential Palace
Other work was performed under the presidency of Ernesto Perez Balladares (1994-1999), most notably the refurbishing of the room used for cabinet meetings. First Lady Dora Boyd de Perez Balladares also coordinated the publication of a very well researched pictorial book on the building with the proceeds from the sales of the book going to charity.
