Estación Mapocho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estación Mapocho
|
|
|---|---|
| Disused train station | |
The facade of the Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho in 2020
|
|
| Location | Santiago, Chile |
| History | |
| Opened | 1913 |
| Closed | 1987 |
| Rebuilt | 1994 (as cultural centre) |
Estación Mapocho is a famous building in Santiago, Chile. It used to be a busy railway station for trains. Since 1994, it has been a lively cultural center. Today, it hosts many different events for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
The Story of Estación Mapocho
Building a Grand Station
The idea for Estación Mapocho started in 1905. A Chilean architect named Emilio Jecquier, who lived in France, designed it. The building is very long, about 280 meters, and 17 meters tall. It has a strong base made of masonry (like brickwork). The roof was originally a steel frame covered in glass, but now it's copper. A Belgian company, Haine Saint Pierre, built the steel parts. The station officially opened in 1913.
A Special Place in History
Estación Mapocho is like a time capsule from an important period in Chilean history. Chile was celebrating its first 100 years of independence. Many new buildings were made to mark this special time. The station was one of them, along with Santa Lucía Hill park and the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts.
The station is located near the Mapocho River. You can find it where Presidente Balmaceda and Bandera streets meet. The Puente Cal y Canto metro station is right in front of it, under a place called "Culture Square."
A Busy Travel Hub
For many years, Estación Mapocho was Santiago's main train station. Trains traveled from here to Valparaíso, Argentina, and northern Chile. Northern Chile was very important back then because of its saltpeter (a mineral used in fertilizers and explosives) industry.
Because of its beautiful design and historical importance, the building was declared a National Monument in 1976. This means it's a protected landmark.
- Estación Mapocho through history
-
In its construction stage
-
Aerial view of the Estación Mapocho. Image taken from the summit of the San Cristobal Hill.
-
Details of the Interior
-
Facade
-
View of the lower hall
When the Trains Stopped Running
In 1986, the station closed for a short time for repairs. Train services were moved to another station, which made travel difficult for many people. The next year, in 1987, the repairs stopped, and Estación Mapocho was no longer used as a train station. The building started to fall apart because it was empty.
Since it was a National Monument, it couldn't be torn down. So, in 1988, the State Railroad Company sold the building to CORFO, a Chilean agency that helps with economic growth.
Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre
A New Beginning for the Station
In 1991, a special group called the Corporación Cultural de la Estación Mapocho was formed. This non-profit organization was given the job of bringing the building back to life. They wanted to turn it into a cultural center. This was one of the first times a private group managed a public building in Chile. It was also an important cultural project after Chile became a democracy again.
The Renovation Project
Four architects – Montserrat Palmer, Teodoro Fernández, Ramón López, and Rodrigo Pérez de Arce – led the renovation. Their plan was to update the huge 10,000 square meter space. They wanted to change as little as possible to keep the original design. The project cost about 10 million US dollars.
Opening as a Cultural Hub
The restoration was finished by early 1994. The new Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre opened its doors on March 3, 1994. Today, it's a place where Chile's culture and history are celebrated. The building hosts many events, like art shows, music concerts, and big meetings. The Santiago International Book Fair is held there every year in the spring.
The cultural center has been very successful. It won the City Heritage Award in 2005. This was special because it was the building's 100th birthday and the center's 15th anniversary. In 2008, it also received the Reina Sofía International Award for saving and restoring cultural heritage.
See also
In Spanish: Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho para niños
- Culture of Chile
- Music of Chile
