The history of a place is marked by countless symbols and events. Chile, with its rich cultural melting pot and stunning natural landscapes, is home to numerous museums dedicated to preserving and protecting the heritage of a country steeped in epic tales. Are you curious about which museums are the most significant in Chile? Read on to discover.
Understanding the history of a country allows you to walk the same paths trodden by its early inhabitants and feel a special connection with indigenous cultures. If you find learning history dull, there’s a fun and engaging way to do so: through museums.
They say that everything enters through the eyes, and this era confirms it. Dive into the knowledge of history through your sense of sight. Give boredom a run for its money and discover the fascinating world behind enchanting natural landscapes. In this article, we recommend four museums that will open your eyes wide. Dare to travel through the history and culture of Chile!
What Are the Most Important Museums in Chile?
This mountainous country boasts countless natural attractions—mountains, rivers, forests, and beaches showcase its beauty. How would you feel knowing you’re in the land with the oldest mummy in the world? Understanding the art and culture of a place is just as important, if not more so, than snapping a selfie against a mountain backdrop. Why? Because knowing what happened centuries ago in the very spot where today’s smartphones are snapping pictures can create a deeper connection to that location.
If you want to enrich the captions of the photos you take and make them more interesting, you cannot miss this article. Chile has many museums on various themes. Here, we present a selection of the four museums you can visit to uncover what lies behind each beautiful landscape.
1. National Museum of Natural History of Chile
Location: Plaza de Armas de Santiago 951, Santiago.
The National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) is a must-visit if you wish to understand the value of Chile’s natural and cultural heritage. Established during the Chilean independence period, this museum has a significant historical context.
If you’re captivated by the mountainous landscapes that Chile offers, it’s worth noting that in 1830, the Chilean Minister of the Interior hired Claude Gay, a French botanist, to investigate the natural history, geography, geology, and key agricultural and mineral resources of the territory.
Due to its historical background, it was considered essential to know the country’s boundaries, resources, and natural monuments.
The MNHN is located in Quinta Normal Park, Santiago, in a building initially designed and constructed by French architect Paul Lathoud for the International Exhibition of 1875. The building was handed over to the museum a year later.
In its early years, the museum shared its space with the Agricultural Institute, which is now the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences at the University of Chile. This is where they studied species for agricultural and forestry use.
Interestingly, it’s often referred to as “the whale museum” due to the presence of a fin whale skeleton named Greta in the grand central hall. It could also be called “the survivor museum” since it has endured numerous earthquakes: in 1906, 1927, and the major quakes of 1960, 1971, 1985, and 2010.
The institution participates in over forty laws, decrees, regulations, and international agreements, housing countless collections that visually narrate the national history. What can you expect to find here? Sit back and be amazed:
- 250,000 pieces of Anthropology
- 160,000 pieces of Botany
- 400,000 pieces of Entomology
- 21,000 pieces between Paleontology and Mineralogy
- 30,000 pieces of Invertebrate Zoology
- 35,500 pieces of Vertebrate Zoology
- 25,000 items in the Abate Molina Library
It’s estimated that the museum has a total of 1,000,000 items in its collection.
The museum also has educational programs, including “The Museum Goes to Your Community” (MUVACO), where researchers visit educational institutions to discuss their projects and the museum’s collections.
Additionally, it hosts the National Youth Science Fair, which is the oldest in Chile.
Free guided tours are available for 40 minutes from Tuesday to Friday, with groups ranging from 10 to 45 people. We recommend booking a month in advance as spots fill up quickly. You can reserve your spot at www.reservavisitas.mnhn.cl or via email at reservas@mnhn.gob.cl.
2. Pre-Columbian Art Museum of Chile
Location: Bandera 361, Santiago, Metropolitan Region.
This museum has the privilege of being located in the heart of Santiago. For many, this is considered “the best museum in Chile.” Do you want to know why? You can explore it yourself! But let’s share some essential information before your visit.
The Pre-Columbian Art Museum offers a stunning visual proposal with over five thousand pieces on permanent exhibition.
You’ll encounter massive display cases showcasing body adornments, Aztec figures, ceremonial masks, Mayan ceramics, a sculpture of the deity Xipe Totec, stone and wood sculptures representing Caribbean culture and shamanic rituals, Andean musical instruments, gold and silver art from the Inca Empire, colorful textiles from Chile’s coastal region, elements from the Aymara and Mapuche cultures, traditional Chilean headdresses, and magnificent stone and metal works from northwest Argentina.
The Chilean Pre-Columbian Art Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, except during some official holidays. It offers guided tours that must be arranged in advance. For hours of operation, temporary exhibitions, details on guided tours, and information about free admission days, check their website: museo.precolombino.cl.
3. Museum of Contemporary Art
Location: Ismael Valdés Vergara 506, Santiago (Parque Forestal).
Let’s take a trip back in time to the era of palaces and castles of the early twentieth century. Here lies the majestic Museum of Contemporary Art of Santiago. Founded in 1947 and designed by French-Chilean architect Emile Jéquier, this museum boasts a collection of around 2,600 pieces, including over 600 paintings, along with sculptures, sketches, engravings, and ceramics.
Among its exhibitions, you’ll find works by Chilean painters such as Roberto Matta and Pablo Burchard, alongside pieces by Latin American artists like Argentine Emilio Pettoruti, Colombian Alejandro Obregón, and Peruvian Fernando de Szyszlo.
The sculpture collection features approximately 90 pieces made from bronze, marble, stone, and terracotta.
There’s also an impressive collection of prints, sketches, and engravings, including works from renowned Austrian painter and designer Friedrich Hundertwasser.
For photography enthusiasts, the museum displays works by national photographers Bob Borowicz and Claudia Bertoni, as well as Canadian Cecile Boucher.
The museum opens daily, with an accessible entry fee, and free admission on Sundays. Discounts are available for students and seniors. For all necessary information, visit the museum’s official website: mac.uchile.cl.
4. National Historical Museum
Location: Plaza de Armas 951, Santiago, Metropolitan Region.
Continuing our journey through neoclassical and monumental buildings, we arrive at the National Historical Museum, which operates under the National Cultural Heritage Service.
This museum is a must-visit! Firstly, because it’s located at the so-called kilometer zero, and secondly, it was founded in the Royal Audience Palace in 1911, making its luxury and impressive architecture truly awe-inspiring.
Here, you can explore research conducted by the institution on the history of Chile. Its primary objective is to showcase this history through the heritage objects it houses, spanning from pre-Columbian times to the 1970s.
Moreover, the museum is designed to foster reflection. One of its aims is to create dialogue between the present and the past through permanent and temporary exhibitions. It also runs a dissemination program that includes regular publications and discussion forums. What could be more enjoyable than accessing knowledge through conversation?
The museum is open for visits from Wednesday to Sunday and on holidays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. On Fridays, it closes a little later, at 10 PM. Admission is free.
You can access the museum’s entire program here: www.mhn.gob.cl.
These four museums showcase the rich cultural tapestry and historical depth of Chile, making them essential stops for anyone wishing to understand this unique nation better. Grab your notebook and start your tour through the fascinating history of Chile!
