National Historical Museum (Argentina) facts for kids
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| Established | May 24, 1889 |
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| Location | Defensa 1652 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
The National Historical Museum (known as Museo Histórico Nacional in Spanish) is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's a special place that tells the story of Argentina's past. Inside, you can see many interesting objects from important times like the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence. These events were key to Argentina becoming an independent nation.
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A Look Back: How the Museum Started
The idea for this museum began on May 24, 1889. The mayor of Buenos Aires at the time, Francisco Seeber, decided to create it. It was first called the Historical Museum of the Capital.
A historian named Adolfo Carranza suggested the museum. He became its first director when it officially opened on February 15, 1891. The museum was first located on Santa Fe Avenue, where the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden is now.
The museum moved to its current home in the San Telmo neighborhood in 1897. This happened after the city bought the land. The land where the Botanical Garden is now went to the city government, and the museum became part of the national government.
The beautiful building where the museum is today was first built for an English merchant named Daniel Mackinlay. Later, in 1846, an American businessman named Charles Ridgley Horne bought it. He made the house and gardens much bigger.
Ridgley Horne was connected to Juan Manuel de Rosas, a powerful leader in Buenos Aires. After Rosas was no longer in power in 1852, Ridgley Horne had to leave the country. The land was then sold to José Gregorio Lezama. After he passed away in 1894, his wife, Ángela Álzaga de Lezama, sold the property to the city. The city then turned the mansion into the museum and most of the surrounding land into Lezama Park.
What You Can See: The Museum's Collection
The museum has a huge collection of over 50,000 items! Many of these objects were given by the families of important people from the May Revolution and the wars of independence. Other items came from an older collection called the Public Museum, which was started in 1822 by Bernardino Rivadavia.
The displays include uniforms, personal items, furniture, and important papers. These belonged to famous figures like José de San Martín, María de los Remedios de Escalada, Manuel Belgrano, Juan Manuel de Rosas, Bartolomé Mitre, and Juan and Eva Perón. You can also see items from other Argentine and foreign leaders, lawmakers, and military figures who played big roles in Argentina's history up to 1950.
The museum also has a collection of historical paintings. These include works by artists like Esteban Echeverría, Cándido López, and Prilidiano Pueyrredón.
Gallery Building
Gallery Collection
Gallery of Paintings
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See also
In Spanish: Museo Histórico Nacional (Argentina) para niños
