Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum facts for kids
| Museo Antropológico Martín Gusinde | |
Martin Gusinde, German priest and ethnologist
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | Aragay / Gusinde, Puerto Williams |
| Type | Archaeology museum |
| Collection size | almost 4,000 pieces |
| Visitors | 4,905 |
The Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum (Spanish: Museo Antropológico Martín Gusinde) is a special museum in Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino, in southern Chile. It is known as the southernmost museum in the world. This museum helps us learn about the amazing 10,000-year history of the Yahgan people. It also shows us about European settlers who arrived in the area since the 1800s. You can also see examples of local plants and animals. The museum also has photos and information about how Puerto Williams was founded.
Contents
History of the Museum
Before the museum was built, old items from the island's coast were collected. These interesting historical objects were shown in a local school in Puerto Williams.
The Chilean Navy suggested and built the museum in 1974. They had a base in the area. The museum was named after Martin Gusinde. He was an Austrian expert who studied people in Tierra del Fuego between 1918 and 1924. The building itself is partly made from strong Alerce wood.
What You Can See: The Exhibits
The main goal of the museum's exhibits is to help people protect the history and nature of the region. The museum has two floors and three main halls. It offers many different ways to learn about the area's history and culture.
First Floor: Stories of the Past
The first floor shows photographs, maps, and objects. These tell the story of the Yahgan people. You will also learn about the first explorations by Europeans and Chileans from 1520 to 1890. There is also information about the gold rush that happened from 1890 to 1950.
Hall A: Journey of Understanding
This hall has a copy of a traditional canoe in the middle. This canoe represents the museum's spirit. It shows how the museum helps people travel to new ways of understanding.
Hall B: Secrets of the Canoe World
- Ancient Patagonia: This part describes the very old history of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. This period began about 11,000 to 12,000 years ago. It was near the end of the Ice Age. This is when the first groups of hunter-gatherers arrived in the region.
- Sea Nomads: As the sea levels changed, human groups quickly settled in the region. They learned to live there and use the ocean's resources. These groups built and sailed small canoes on the sea.
- The Yahgans: Learn about the Yahgan people, who were the southernmost hunters, fishers, and gatherers on Earth.
- Signs of Life: This section explores how the Yahgan people organized their lives. It covers their homes, families, and clothing.
- A Unique Land: This part describes the different landscapes of Patagonia. It includes its varied geography, climates, and animals.
- Ceremonial Magic: Discover the Yahgan people's spiritual beliefs and traditions. These were shown through their special rituals.
- Meeting Newcomers: This section tells about the Yahgan people's encounters with Europeans. It also covers the effects of colonization on their lives.
- Today and Yesterday: Learn about the lives of Yahgan descendants today. Many of them live in a place called Villa Ukika.
- Canoe Legends: Explore the traditional stories and legends of the Yahgan people.
Second Floor: Nature and New Beginnings
The second floor has a collection of local flora (plants) and fauna (animals). It also shows photographs and documents. These are about the founding of Puerto Williams in 1953.
Hall C: Tales of Discovery
- European Exploration: This section explains how Europeans discovered and explored the territory. This process began in the 15th century. They mapped new routes across the oceans.
- Adventure in a New World: Learn about the importance of discovering the Strait of Magellan. This discovery helped prove that the world was round.
- Sailing Between Oceans: This part describes how the Dutch (among other Europeans) found the southernmost islands of the continent. They also found a second passage between the two oceans.
- The Safe Route: A sea route was created for communication and trade. This route attracted people looking for fortune and even pirates.
- Control of the Southern Lands: This section covers the disagreement between Chile and Argentina over the southern lands. It also explains how the Boundary treaty of 1881 resolved it.
- Adventurers and Scientists: Learn about the people who explored the region in the 1800s. They collected plants, studied the waters, observed stars, and wrote about the people. They also did studies on weather, geography, and geology.
- Magellan and Early Exploration: This part talks about the fur trade and items from shipwrecks. These include tools, objects, and even gold from the gold rush.
- Life Takes Hold: This section describes how the area developed and changed. This happened through land grants, new settlements, fishing, and anthropological studies.
Community Work and Activities
The museum also works with the local community. It offers many services and activities. These include providing information and advice. They also offer support, skill-building for teachers, art shows, and film screenings. The museum even provides a Wi-Fi zone for the community.
Stirling Pavilion: A Historic House
The Stirling Pavilion at the museum helps visitors understand the history of the Stirling House. This house was once an Anglican mission.
The Stirling House is a pre-made structure. It was designed and built from cast iron in 1869 in England. It cost £265.00 and was made for the South American Mission Society (SAMS). The house was about 6 by 3.5 meters (20 by 11.5 feet). It had a brick basement, a strong roof with steel supports, and walls covered with zinc sheets. It was the first building Europeans put up in Tierra del Fuego. It was named after the missionary Waite Stirling, who had lived in a simple hut in Ushuaia.
In late 1870, the house arrived in Port Stanley in pieces. It was then taken to Ushuaia and built there in 1871. Missionaries Thomas Bridges and James Lewis lived in it with their families.
To reach more islands, SAMS moved the house in 1888. They took it to Baily Island, a more central spot. Leonard Burgleigh and his wife lived there as missionaries.
In 1894, the house was moved again. It was set up at Tekenika Bay, on the southeast coast of Hoste Island. The missionaries wanted to create a center away from the problems caused by gold miners in Ushuaia.
However, the Yahgan people continued to suffer from diseases. The land was poor, and gold miners were moving into their areas. In 1907, the mission decided to move to Douglas Bay on Navarino Island. The Ushuaia station was closed, and its remaining materials were sent to Douglas Bay. This new location became the main center for all missionary work in the region. After the mission in Douglas Bay closed in 1916, different people used the house.
In 2003, Casa Stirling was declared a Chilean National Monument. In 2004, it was moved by sea from Douglas Bay to Puerto Williams. It was placed on the land of the anthropological museum. The museum now takes care of it and operates it as a historic house.
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