Yatasto relay (place) facts for kids
The Posta de Yatasto is a very old and important place in Argentina. It's an estate, like a large farm, located in Salta Province, near a town called San José de Metán. This place is famous because of special meetings that happened there. These meetings were during the Argentine War of Independence, when Argentina was fighting to become free. Because of its history, the Posta de Yatasto was made a National Monument of Argentina in 1942.
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History of Posta de Yatasto
Early Days and Travelers
The Posta de Yatasto was built a long time ago, during what were called colonial times. This was when Argentina was part of a Spanish colony known as the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata. The estate was a resting stop for people traveling long distances. Travelers going between Buenos Aires and a region called Upper Peru (which is now Bolivia) would stop here. They could rest, get fresh horses, and continue their journey. The original name of the place might have been "Yatasto," "Ayatasto," or "Llatasto."
A Patriot's Contribution
In 1784, a man named Don Vicente Toledo y Pimentel took over the estate. He fixed it up and made it better. Don Vicente was a patriot, meaning he strongly supported the people fighting for Argentina's independence. He helped the armies that were moving north to fight. He even gave 1,300 horses and 100 cows to General Juan Ramón Balcarce to help the cause.
Important Meetings for Independence
The Posta de Yatasto became a key place for the Army of the North. This army was fighting for Argentina's freedom. It was used for important handover of command ceremonies. This is when one general passes leadership of the army to another.
- On May 26, 1812, Juan Martín de Pueyrredón gave command of the troops to Manuel Belgrano. Belgrano was a very important leader who created the Argentine flag.
- Later, on January 17, 1814, Belgrano passed the command to José de San Martín. San Martín is known as the Liberator of Argentina, Chile, and Peru. This happened after Belgrano's difficult journey to Upper Peru.
- The next month, Martín Miguel de Güemes, another hero of Argentina, took an important oath at Yatasto.
These meetings were crucial for planning and leading the fight for independence.
Posta de Yatasto Today
Today, only a part of the original Posta de Yatasto building remains. You can still see stone parts of old rooms and a small church. The current building has four rooms on the ground floor. There is also one room upstairs that you can reach using wooden stairs.
The Posta de Yatasto was officially declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina on July 14, 1942. In 1950, the owners gave the estate to the government. Since then, it has been open to the public as a museum. Visitors can learn about its rich history and the important events that happened there.
