Museum sights in Buenos Aires
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Museo Casa de Ricardo Rojas
Walk under the facade, modeled after the Casa de Independencia in Tucumán, and behold a quaint courtyard surrounded by European and Incan architectural motifs. Famous Argentine educator and writer Ricardo Rojas lived here from 1929 to 1957, and in his office wrote his renowned El Santo de la Espada (1933). Note the glass case displaying his original books; the library contains 20,000 volumes. An old dining room with period furniture also gives an idea of the past. The small theater holds Friday concerts and the occasional workshop; the entry fee includes a short tour in Spanish.
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Museo Evita
Everybody who is anybody in Argentina has their own museum, and Eva Perón is no exception. You can see her immortalized in Museo Evita through videos, historical photos, books, old posters and newspaper headlines – even her fingerprints are recorded. The prize memorabilia, however, would have to be her wardrobe: dresses, shoes, handbags, hats and blouses stand proudly behind shining glass, forever pressed and pristine.
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Museo Judio Dr Salvador Kibrick
At the northeast end of Plaza Lavalle, Jewish symbols adorn the facade of the Templo de la Congregación Israelita, Argentina’s largest synagogue. Concrete sidewalk planters, constructed after recent attacks against Jewish targets, discourage potential car bombs; police stand guard nearby. The Museo Judio Dr Salvador Kibrick is in the synagogue and contains many items and exhibits related to Jewish history.
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National Historical Museum
This national historical museum is located at the supposed site of Pedro de Mendoza’s original founding of the city in 1536. Major figures of Argentine historical periods, such as San Martín, Rosas and Sarmiento, are represented, along with a few artifacts and paintings. Exhibits are a bit sparse, but the security is great – be prepared to hand over your bag while you look around.
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Museo Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre, who became Argentina’s president in 1862, resided at this colonial house, now a museum. After leaving office, he founded the influential daily La Nación, still a porteño institution. The museum provides a good reflection of 19th-century upper-class life. It’s full of Mitre’s personal effects, such as home decorations and furniture.
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Cabildo
The mid-18th-century town council, now a museum is not the size it once was, due to the building of surrounding avenues, but still has a section of the recova (colonnade) that once spanned Plaza de Mayo. The museum inside offers scanty exhibits, but a lively crafts market sets up in the patio on Thursday and Friday – and the cafe is a great place to relax.
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Museo Etnográfico Juan B Ambrosetti
This small but attractive anthropological museum displays collections from the Andean northwest, Patagonia and elsewhere in South America. Beautiful indigenous artifacts, including intricate jewelry and Mapuche ponchos, are presented, while an African and Asian room showcases priceless items. Tours are available in English and Spanish (call for hours).
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Museo del Tango
Located below the Academia Nacional del Tango is this tango museum – for fans of the dance only. Just a couple of large rooms are filled with tango memorabilia, from old records and photos to historic literature and posters. Tango shoes are also featured, but the highlight has to be one of Carlos Gardel’s famous fedora hats. Enter via Av Rivadavia.
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Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco
This neocolonial-era mansion turned museum holds some gorgeous pieces of silverwork, religious paintings, Jesuit statuary and antiques. There’s been no effort to place items in any historical context, but everything is in great condition, and an attractive garden provides a peaceful sanctuary. Call ahead for tours in English, German or French.
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Palacio de Las Aguas Corrientes
Hundreds of thousands of glazed terracotta tiles adorn the exterior of this awe-inspiring building. Opened in 1894, the fairytale-like Palacio de Las Aguas Corrientes (Palace of Running Water) was home to 12 giant tanks that distributed water to the city. Now the building has a small museum exhibiting antique faucets and urinals.
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Museo del Patrimonio
If you like quirky museums, check out the small Museo del Patrimonio on the 2nd floor of Palacio de Las Aguas Corrientes; it’s full of pipe fittings, tiles and odd toilets. Guided visits offer a backstage glimpse of the building’s inner workings (call for schedules). Bring photo ID and enter via Riobamba.
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Museo de la Policía Federal
In the heart of the financial district in Buenos Aires, this museum proudly displays a whole slew of uniforms, medals, guns, drug paraphernalia and gambling exhibits. Avoid taking your kids into the room way in back – grisly forensic photos, along with dummies of murder victims, are barf-bag specials.
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Museo de Bellas Artes de la Boca Benito Quinquela Martín
On display at this modern museum are the works of Benito Quinquela Martín, which center on La Boca’s port history. There are also paintings by more contemporary Argentine artists, along with a small but excellent collection of painted wood bowsprits (carved statues decorating the front of ships).
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Fragata Sarmiento
Over 23,000 Argentine naval cadets and officers have trained aboard this 85m ship, which sailed around the world 40 times between 1899 and 1938 but never participated in combat. On board are the records of its voyages, nautical items and even the stuffed remains of Lampazo (the ship’s pet dog).
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Museo de la Pasión Boquense
High-tech and spiffy, the Museo de la Pasión Boquense chronicles La Bombonera stadium, some soccer idols’ histories, past highlights (on many videos), the championships, the trophies and, of course, the gooooals. It’s located right under the stadium; peek at the pitch for a few extra pesos.
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Museo Histórico Dr Arturo Jáuretche
This museum makes some sense of Argentina’s chaotic economic history. Well-lit displays about paper money and counterfeiting are no doubt scrutinized by BA’s current money forgers. The million-peso bill from 1981 gives an idea of the hyperinflation porteños had to deal with.
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Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo
Housed in an opulent beaux-arts mansion that once belonged to Chilean aristocrats, this museum displays some 4000 pieces of decorative art, from Louis XIV furniture to Renaissance paintings. The outdoor cafe in the front courtyard is a perfectly quaint setting for a glass of wine.
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Museo de Armas
If you’re big on weaponry, don’t miss this extravagant museum showcasing over 2000 bazookas, grenade launchers, machine guns, muskets, pistols, lances and swords – even the gas mask for a combat horse is on display. Don’t miss the Japanese suits of armor.
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Museo de Arte Moderno
Housed in a former tobacco warehouse, this roomy museum exhibited the works of contemporary Argentine artists, as well as temporary exhibitions. In 2009 it was closed for major remodeling, with plans to integrate the old cinema museum next door.
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Museo Participativo de Ciencias
In Recoleta visit the Museo Participativo de Ciencias, in the Centro Cultural Recoleta. This hands-on science museum has interactive displays that focus on fun learning. Hours vary widely depending on the season; check during your tenure.
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Museo de la Basílica del Rosario
Located in the 18th-century Basílica de Santo Domingo, the Museo de la Basílica del Rosario displays the flags that were captured from the British when they holed up here during the invasion of 1806.
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Museo de Los Niños
The Mercado de Abasto boasts a full-blown Museo de los Niños where kids enter a miniature city complete with post office, hospital and even TV station.
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Museo Xul Solar
Xul Solar was a painter, inventor and poet, and this museum highlights over 80 of his bizarre, surreal and even cartoonish paintings; the guy was in a class by himself.
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Museo Argentino del Títere
In San Telmo, check out the puppet museum, Museo Argentino del Títere, which has inexpensive weekend shows (call for schedule) that will amuse the little urchins.
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Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández
This small but appealing museum has a permanent collection of indigenous Argentine crafts and popular arts, including colorful textiles, decorative masks and Carnaval costumes.
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