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Museum · Santa Cruz, Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins
Museo de Colchagua
Private museum opened in 1995 by the Cardoen Foundation, with about 7,000 pieces: fossils, archaeology, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial objects, huasos and the capsule from the rescue of the 33 miners.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Museo de Colchagua
The Museo de Colchagua was inaugurated in 1995 at the initiative of businessman Carlos Cardoen and is maintained by the foundation that bears his name. It is presented as Chile's largest private museum, with a collection of about 7,000 objects gathered over decades.
The main route has eight rooms in chronological order: paleontology, Chilean archaeology, pre-Hispanic cultures, Conquest and Colony, Independence, Republic, Church and modernity. The visit begins with fossils and ends in the 20th century, passing through pre-Columbian ceramics, Mapuche silverwork and religious objects.
In addition to the rooms, there are nine thematic pavilions. One is dedicated to the huasos, the Chilean country horsemen, with saddles and spurs; others cover carriages, Andean jewelry, textiles, pre-Hispanic metallurgy, Darwin in Chile and the railway in Colchagua. The pavilion El Gran Rescate tells the story of the rescue of the 33 miners trapped in the San José mine in the Atacama Desert, and displays the capsule used in the operation.
The museum is part of a route of museums run by the same foundation, which includes the Museo de la Artesanía in Lolol and the wine and automobile museums within Viña Santa Cruz.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One and a half to two hours for the main rooms and some pavilions; history lovers may spend the whole morning.
Best time
In the morning, before lunch, when the summer heat hasn't set in yet. Check opening days and hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on Avenida Errázuriz, one block from the Plaza de Armas, and is within walking distance from anywhere in the center.
Tip
There is a combined ticket that includes other museums of the foundation, such as those at Viña Santa Cruz. If you plan to visit Lolol the same weekend, it's worth asking at the ticket office.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo de Colchagua
What shouldn't be missed on the visit?
The chronological rooms, from the fossil period to modern times, the huasos pavilion and the El Gran Rescate pavilion, featuring the miners' rescue capsule.
Who created the museum?
The businessman Carlos Cardoen, who opened the museum in 1995 with pieces from his collection. The Fundación Cardoen manages the site.
How much time should you allow?
At least an hour and a half. With the themed pavilions, the visit easily exceeds two hours.