- Address: Subida Comandante Añagay, Puerto Williams, Cabo de Hornos, Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, Chile;
- Founded: in 1975;
- Official website: www.museoantropologicomartingusinde.cl.
Chile is truly a country of contrasts, surprisingly original, combining the culture of indigenous people and Spanish conquerors. It is rich both in various objects of pristine nature, and in cultural attractions . One of them is the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum, which reflects the natural and historical features of the region in which it is located.
History of the origin and features of the museum
The southernmost point of the world is the Chilean city of Puerto Williams. Of course, the city can be called a city with great stretch, since the number of inhabitants of Puerto Williams is only 2500 people. But, nevertheless, this is the southernmost point of the earth where people live. The place is surrounded by a mountain ridge, like a bowl. There is a small town near the Beagle Channel on the island of Navarino. This is the heart of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, distinguished by its unbridled climate, magnificent flora and fauna.
Puerto Williams did not arouse much interest among the colonialists precisely because of the severity of the climate, so the local Yagan tribe lived peacefully on the island. This situation existed until 1890, until gold was discovered on this land. From this time, the active settlement of island lands by Europeans begins.
Approximately from the 1950s, the economy began to develop on the island, based on sea transport, fishing and tourism. And the place of Port Williams became known as the port city. Thanks to the many scientific discoveries that have become frequent in the 20th century, the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum appeared in the city, named after the German anthropologist and ethnographer who arrived at the beginning of the 20th century to the islands of Tierra del Fuego in search of scattered tribes of the Yagan and Alakalouf Indians. Martin Gusinde became the only European who was accepted by the Yagan tribe, allowed him to go through initiation and keep records of their traditions, rituals and folklore. The scientist lived in these places for several years, leaving the islands with great sadness. Later published a scientific paper on the islands of Tierra del Fuego and on the tribes of the Indians left here.
In 1975, the Navy of Chile , based on Navarino Island, contributed to the creation of the anthropological museum named after the scientist Martin Gusinde. For this purpose, the construction of the building and the collection of archaeological finds, artifacts and household items of local Indians were carried out in parallel.
When all the works were completed, the museum opened with a large exposition dedicated to the life of the Yagan Indians. By the time the museum was opened, not a single purebred representative of this nation had survived, so this exposition is doubly valuable. In addition, the museum collected historical evidence of the era of English religious missions and gold mining. To visit the museum is open daily, except for the weekend.
How to get to the museum?
In Puerto Williams, where the Anthropological Museum of Martin Gusinde is located, you get by ferry or plane. The starting point is the city of Punta Arenas , which is located at a distance of 285 km.