Museo Provincial Fernando Cordero Rusque - Museum Porvenir - Chile

Museo Provincial Fernando Cordero Rusque is an impressive village museum. Its half-dozen galleries cover the natural and human history of Tierra del Fuego. Well-displayed stuffed fauna, especially of birds and the skeleton of a marine elephant are one surprise here. Modern history covers the exploration of the Straits of Magellan, the Salesian missionary work (including the instruments of the Isla Dawson indigenous children's band), gold exploitation and Porvenir's immigrant founders. Other rooms focus on the Selk'nam people who once wandered these lands. Treasures here include archaeological remains, and explanation of the Hain initiation ceremony, Kela, a naturally mummified body, dating from 1424 AD, found on Isla Tres Magotes, and a 15-minute video (in Spanish or English) about this indigenous nation. On the grounds is Tierra del Fuego's first astronomic observatory and other relics.

Location:
Zavattaro 402
Porvenir, Chile

Museum Types:
Fauna, industry, history

Price Description: Adults $1, children free

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m., weekends and holidays 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m.

Open Hours to:Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 4 p.m., weekends and holidays 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

Stroll around the town, taking in the Fuegian architecture or walk along the costanera; bird watch at Monumental Natural Laguna de los Cisnes or take a boat tour of Bahía de Porvenir to see dolphins. Hit the various circuits through the surrounding countryside: Histórico Cultural, de Oro and de Petróleo. Go fishing at Lago Blanco, or trek the Cordillera Darwin, Parque Nacional Alberto de Agostini and other reserves.

Currencies accepted
Chilean Peso

Contact Information:
Phone: 58-1800
E-mail: museo(at)remove-this.municipalidaddeporvenir.cl / museo(at)remove-this.muniporvenir.cl

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By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began...

Updated: 28 May 2009