Museo Nacional de Antropología (Madrid) facts for kids
| Museo Nacional de Antropología | |
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Museum's main facade
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| Established | 1875 |
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| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Type | Archaeological and ethnographic |
| Public transit access | Madrid-Atocha   |
| Official name: Museo Nacional de Antropología' | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1962 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0001384 |
The National Museum of Anthropology (which in Spanish is Museo Nacional de Antropología) is a special museum in Madrid, Spain. It helps us learn about different human cultures from around the world. This museum is the oldest of its kind in Spain. It first opened its doors on April 29, 1875. It is one of Spain's important national museums and is part of the country's Ministry of Culture. You can find the museum close to the beautiful Parque del Buen Retiro and right across from the Atocha train and metro station.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The idea for this museum came from a doctor named Pedro González de Velasco. He wanted to create a museum about human anatomy. He gathered many of the first items for the museum. Over time, the museum's focus changed. It moved from just studying the human body to exploring different human cultures. This is known as cultural anthropology.
Exploring the Museum's Floors
The museum has three main floors. Each floor is dedicated to showing different cultures and parts of the world.
Ground Floor: Asia and Early Collections
The ground floor is mostly about Asia. It pays special attention to the culture of the Philippines. The Philippines was a Spanish colony until 1898. Many items on display here came from an exhibition held in 1885. This exhibition was in the nearby Retiro Park. This floor also has rooms for temporary exhibitions. You can also see a "cabinet of curiosities." This part shows what early museum displays looked like. It includes a plaster cast and the skeleton of a very tall man known as the "Extremaduran Giant" (Agustín Luengo Capilla). There are also statues and casts showing different human types.
First Floor: Cultures of Africa
The first floor is dedicated to Africa. It has many important items from the culture of Equatorial Guinea. This country was a Spanish colony until 1959.
Second Floor: The Americas
The second floor focuses on the indigenous peoples of the Americas. You can see interesting items here. These include shrunken heads from the Jivaro and colorful masks used in Andean Carnival celebrations. There are also Inuit sun goggles designed to protect eyes from bright snow.
Lecture Hall
The museum also has a lecture hall. This space is used for different events. You can watch performances of traditional music and dances. It is also a place where experts give talks and lectures.
External Links
- Official Website: http://mnantropologia.mcu.es
- Museo Nacional de Antropología – Google Arts & Culture
See also
In Spanish: Museo Nacional de Antropología (España) para niños
