Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art — Attraction in Santiago

During the 1970s, Sergio Larraín García-Moreno became aware of the importance that his collection has acquired and of the urgency to worry about its integral and permanent maintenance, with an institutional safeguard beyond contingencies. Then, it initiates conversations with university and state entities with the intention of making a donation so that the collection is exhibited, conserved and increased. After some attempts, he finds an enthusiastic response from the Mayor of Santiago, Patricio Mekis, who welcomes the idea and begins to work to find a property that shelters the institution.

At the same time, Sergio Larraín entrusts the lawyer Julio Philippi I. with a legal model that would give birth to a stable institution, which would guard the objects, ensure their integrity and give them a destination under the foundational principles and guidelines. This is how the Larraín Echenique Family Foundation came into being, baptized as a way of demonstrating that they were his heirs, and not the collector himself, who donated the collections to create and maintain a museum oriented to their care, study and dissemination.

In this way, by means of an agreement between the Foundation and the Illustrious Municipality of Santiago, who contributes the building and the general expenses of administration, in December of 1981 the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art opens its doors to the public.

The Museum works in one of the most important buildings of the Colony. Of neoclassical style, it was constructed in 1805 to lodge to the Palace of the Real Aduana during the colonial administration.

Located one block from the Plaza de Armas, the site where this building is located, however, has always occupied an important place in the history of our city and the country in general. This plot was granted in 1555 to the first corregidor of Santiago, Don Juan de Cuevas, who installed his house here. In 1635 the Company of Jesus installed here the Royal Convictory College of San Francisco Javier, later Convictorio Carolino de Nobles.

Later, the Governor Luis Muñoz de Guzmán ordered that in this same place the Royal Customs Palace be built and ordered to be executed by the military engineer Mr. José María de Atero, who built it between 1805 and 1807. This building, declared a Monument National and headquarters of the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, it is of the purest neoclassical style, on plans by Joaquín Toesca, an Italian architect who had previously been in charge of the Palacio de la Moneda, among others.

During the Republic it was occupied by the National Library. From 1845 it became the seat of the Courts of Justice, until in 1968 a great fire completely destroyed its facilities and archives. During the decade of 1980 and by means of successive works of restoration, the Palace of the Customs is reconstructed and enabled integrally, being destined all its facilities to the use of the Museum. On the first floor of the building there are temporary exhibition halls. The library works in the underground of Compañía 1068, a building designed by Mr. Sergio Larraín...

The Chilean museum of pre-Colombian art includes artifacts from all parts of Latin America. When the museum was first established, the choices were based on artistic appeal, but now they include a great many historically significant items as well. Larger items include stella from central America, ceramic statues, and wooden carvings by the indigenous Chilean Mapuchi. There are also many and varied kinds of pottery vessels and ceramic art from all parts of Latin America. Jewelry of gold, silver, and copper are also on display, as are masks of sheet copper. I was intrigued by the Inca talking knot (quipu) display that contained 15,000 bits of information. By far the most impressive displays are of textiles and grave wrappings from tombs in Peru and other parts of the Andes. These textiles are displayed in special light and humidity controlled rooms to preserve the brilliant colors and the quality of the intricately woven panels of cloth, which are as large as 5 feet by 10 feet. Photography is allowed in all parts of the museum except in the textile rooms. This museum is worth the entrance...

The whole second floor is closed, and will be for a long time. They do tell you this up front, which is honest and transparent, but there's no reduction of price considering the fact that most of the exhibits are on the second floor.

I decided not to pay full price to go through and only see one third of the available exhibits. The customer service is very friendly and explaining the situation. But someone in charge should definitely make a decision about price reduction while the largest part of the museum is under renovation.

Pre-Colombian history is fascinating, including the relics, sculptures and artwork that remains as a testimony of these past civilizations. This would be a great museum, if it were opened up and it's entirety.

CLP 8.000 is the highest daily admission fee for non Chilean residents to visit the museum. Locals and students get a discount. CLP 1.000 for locals admission. CLP 4.000 for...