Cabildo of Buenos Aires facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cabildo of Buenos Aires |
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Buenos Aires Cabildo
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| General information | |
| Type | Museum |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Address | Bolívar 65 |
| Town or city | Buenos Aires |
| Country | Argentina |
| Coordinates | 34°36′32″S 58°22′25″W / 34.60889°S 58.37361°W |
| Owner | Government of Argentina |
The Cabildo of Buenos Aires (Spanish: Cabildo de Buenos Aires) is a historic public building in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Long ago, it was the main office for the city's town council. This council was like the local government during the time when Spain ruled the Americas. It also served as the government house for the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a large Spanish territory. Today, the building is a museum where you can learn about its past.
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History of the Cabildo Building
The idea for the Cabildo building started on March 3, 1608. The mayor, Manuel de Frías, suggested building it in what is now Plaza de Mayo. At that time, the city government didn't have its own proper building.
The money for its construction came from taxes collected at the port of Buenos Aires. The first version of the building was finished in 1610. However, it was soon clear that it was too small and needed to be made bigger.
Building Challenges and Changes
By 1682, the Cabildo was in bad shape because it hadn't been properly cared for. Plans were made to build a new, larger Cabildo. This new building was designed to be two stories tall and have 11 arches across its front.
Construction on this new building finally began on July 23, 1725. But work stopped in 1728 and started again in 1731. It stopped again soon after because there wasn't enough money. The tower of the new Cabildo was completed in 1764. Even by the time of the May Revolution in 1810, the building was still not fully finished.
Later Renovations and Reductions
Many years later, in 1880, an architect named Pedro Benoit made some big changes. He made the tower 10 meters taller and covered its dome with shiny glazed tiles. This was different from the old red tiles.
However, the tower was taken down just nine years later, in 1889. This was done to make space for the new Avenida de Mayo street. Also, the three arches on the north side of the building were removed.
In 1931, more changes happened to make room for Julio A. Roca Avenue. The three arches on the south side were removed. This meant only five of the original 11 arches were left. But it also brought the tower back to the center of the building.
Restoring the Original Look
In 1940, architect Mario Buschiazzo worked to bring back the Cabildo's original colonial look. He used old documents to guide his work. The tower was rebuilt, and red tiles were put back on the roof. The iron bars on the windows and the wooden windows and doors were also fixed.
National Museum of the Cabildo
Today, the Cabildo building is home to the National Museum of the Cabildo and the May Revolution. Its full name in Spanish is Museo Nacional del Cabildo y la Revolución de Mayo.
Inside the museum, you can see many interesting things. There are old paintings, historical items, clothes, and jewelry from the 1700s. These exhibits help tell the story of Argentina's past. The museum also has a beautiful patio with an ornamental water well from 1835.
Gallery
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View from the Plaza de Mayo
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Closeup view of the tower
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View of the back of the main building from the Patio
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View of the side of the complex, from Avenida de Mayo
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View of the Cabildo at night
Images for kids
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This flag, called a guidon, belonged to the 71st Regiment of Foot of the British Army. It was captured by troops from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata during the first British invasion in 1806. Today, it is displayed as a war trophy at the National Museum of the Cabildo and the May Revolution in Buenos Aires.
See also
In Spanish: Cabildo de Buenos Aires para niños
