Museum sights in Chile
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Museo del Mar Lord Cochrane
The Museo del Mar Lord Cochrane was built in 1842 for the dashing Scottish naval hero Lord Thomas Cochrane (who set up Chile's navy), but was never occupied by him. The building, a tile-roofed, colonial-style house above Plaza Sotomayor, held Chile's first astronomical observatory. There are few exhibits, but the patio has a stunning view over the harbor. To reach it take the Ascensor Cordillera (located one block north of Plaza Sotomayor) to Cerro Cordillera, then walk east to Merlet at the top of the ascensor.
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B
Regional Museum
Iquique’s former courthouse now hosts the catch-all regional museum, which earnestly recreates a traditional adobe altiplano village (complete with mannequins in Aymara dress). The surrounding chambers also have some attention-grabbing exhibits, from animal fetuses floating in formaldehyde to masked Chinchorro mummies and elongated Tiwanaku skulls. Interesting photographs also explore Iquique’s urban beginnings, and a fascinating display dissects the nitrate industry.
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C
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Espacio Quinta Normal
This branch of the downtown Museo de Arte Contemporáneo specializes in offbeat and experimental exhibitions. It's housed in the Palacio Versailles, declared a national monument in 2004.
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D
Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos
Opened in 2010, this brand-new museum isn't for the faint of heart: the exhibits expose the terrifying human rights violations and large-scale 'disappearances' that took place under Chile's military government between the years of 1973 and 1990. There's no way around it – learning about the 40,000 victims subjected to torture and execution is positively chilling – but a visit to this carefully curated museum helps to contextualize Chile's tumultuous recent history.
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E
Museo de Historia Natural
Museo de Historia Natural explores the region's ecology and paleontology.
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Museo Histórico de Elqui
The Museo Histórico de Elqui has Diaguita ceramics and 19th-century bits and pieces.
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Museo Gustavo Le Paige
Even if museums aren’t your thing, make an exception for San Pedro’s superb Museo Gustavo Le Paige.
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Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico
On Av O'Higgins is the diminutive Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico, with decent exhibits on highland culture of the Atacama.
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Museo Bomberil Benito Riquelme
Museo Bomberil Benito Riquelme, a tiny, quirky museum in the main fire station, is maintained by dedicated local fire-fighting volunteers.
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Archaeological Museum
At the southern extension of Av Bernardo O’Higgins, the Catholic University’s archaeological museum focuses on the Norte Grande.
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Casa de Cultura & Biblioteca Daniel Defoe
Not the most interesting experience, but good for a rainy day, the half library, half museum has a small exhibit of historic photos and artifacts.
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J
Museo Palacio Rioja
The Museo Palacio Rioja is an elegant century-old mansion with lovely gardens, now a municipal museum. It also hosts movies and musical performances.
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Museo de Santiago
The sweetly amateurish Museo de Santiago has maps, scale models and dynamic pint-sized dioramas illustrating highlights of Santiago’s history.
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Museo del Carmen
The historical and religious Museo Del Carmen is worth a look, especially for its detailed portraits of post-colonial Chile. It's a 45-minute bus ride from the center.
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Military Museum
Iquique’s little military museum features a patriotic parade of exhibits on the War of the Pacific. The enthusiastic guard usually allows guests to wield an original cavalry sword.
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Palacio de Bellas Artes
In Parque Forestal’s center is the stately neoclassical Palacio de Bellas Artes, built as part of Chile’s centenary celebrations in 1910. Two of Santiago’s art museums share the premises.
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O
Museo del Huaso
Full-size replicas of rural buildings appear in the park's El Pueblito, along with a clutch of cheap restaurants. The Museo del Huaso honors Chile's cowboys and has an impressive poncho and hat collection.
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Museo Entomológico y de Historia Natural
Crawling with color, antennae and pincers, the small Museo Entomológico y de Historia Natural specializes in insects and kaleidoscopic butterflies, but also has fossils, stuffed birds and invertebrates.
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Museo HistÓrico
This museum has natural history items (mostly stuffed animals), archaeological artifacts, such as stone and whalebone arrowheads and spear points, plus a Yahgan canoe, Tehuelche bolas and historical photographs of Puerto Natales' development.
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Museo Regional de la Patagonia
In town, Museo Regional de la Patagonia catalogues pioneer artifacts and Jesuit regalia. It also houses a fine collection of labeled photographs on regional history, including the construction of part of the Carretera Austral.
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Museo Histórico Municipal
Osorno’s well-arranged Museo Histórico Municipal includes exhibits on Mapuche culture, the city’s shaky colonial origins, German colonization and 19th-century development, all in an impressive neocolonial building dating from 1929.
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Museo Histórico
Puerto Natales' museum has natural history items (mostly stuffed animals), archaeological artefacts such as stone and whalebone arrowheads and spear points, plus a Yahgan canoe, Tehuelche bolas and historical photographs of the town's development.
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Museo de Historia Natural
What the security guards at the Museo de Historia Natural most love to show visitors is the two-headed human baby (in formaldehyde) that was born in the city in 1915. Yes, really. Ask nicely and you may be allowed to pet the taxidermized viscacha, too.
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Museo Regional de Atacama
Built in the 1840s by industrial moguls and radical politicians, the Matta family, the Museo Regional de Atacama is a national monument worth a snoop simply for the architecture. It houses a piecemeal museum with indigenous artifacts and a mock mine made of fiberglass.
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V
Museo O’Higginiano y de Bellas Artes
Talca’s one and only sight is the 1762 house where Bernardo O’Higgins signed Chile’s declaration of independence in 1818. Known as the Museo O’Higginiano y de Bellas Artes; at the time of research it was closed for a total overhaul and isn’t due to reopen until late 2009.
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