National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru
Established	1822
Location	Lima, Peru
Type	history
Director	Sonia Guillén
Website	mnaahp.cultura.pe

The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Arqueología Antropología e Historia del Perú, MNAAHP) is the largest and oldest museum in Peru, housed at the Palacio de la Magdalena, located in the main square [es] of Pueblo Libre, a district of Lima, Peru. The museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts spanning the entire history of human occupation in what is now Peru. Highlights include the Raimondi Stele and the Tello Obelisk from Chavín de Huantar, and an impressive scale model of the Incan citadel, Machu Picchu. As of 2023^[update], the museum is under restoration and very few rooms are open for visitors.

History

The National Museum of Peru (Spanish: Museo Nacional del Perú) was founded under the patronage of José de San Martín in 1822 by José Bernardo de Tagle, Bernardo de Monteagudo and Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz, who assumed the task of directing the project in 1826. Without a fixed location, The collection settled in various places until 1872, when it was exhibited in the main palace of the International Exhibition.^[1]

The first collection was made based on original archaeological excavations, donations and purchases of various pre-Hispanic objects. All of it, except the Raimondi Stele, disappeared as a result of looting during the occupation of Lima by Chilean troops during the War of the Pacific. Due to this, the Museum was dissolved as it did not have enough pieces for its exhibition.^[1]

On May 6, 1905, it was recreated under the name of Museum of National History (Spanish: Museo de Historia Nacional), with José Augusto de Izcue being appointed director, who hired the prestigious German archaeologist Max Uhle. Izcue was in charge of the colonial and republican area, while Uhle directed the pre-Hispanic themes. On July 29 of that year the new museum was inaugurated with the presence of President José Pardo y Barreda.^[1]

In 1911 Julio C. Tello assumed the archaeological area, with Emilio Gutiérrez de Quintanilla [es] being director. By then the museum had a collection of more than 9,000 inventoried archaeological pieces, and an unestimated number of anthropological and historical objects. Due to disagreements between the director and Tello, the Archeology section became independent in 1924 as the Museum of Peruvian Archeology (Spanish: Museo de Arqueología Peruana), while the colonial and republican part adopted the name of the Bolivarian Museum (Spanish: Museo Bolivariano). Both museums, installed in the Magdalena Palace of Pueblo Libre, were inaugurated by President Augusto B. Leguía. While the pieces of the Bolivarian Museum were exhibited in the palace's premises, for the Museum of Archeology the facilities were modified, creating a new museum space by the Portuguese architect Raúl María Pereira.^[2] The Museum of Peruvian Archeology had a collection based on pre-existing archaeological pieces in the Museum of National History, to which the Larco collection was added. This was the collection of Víctor Larco Herrera, which President Augusto B. Leguía purchased from him in 1923 and formed, together with the Paracas de Tello collections, the basis of the collections of the current museum. Tello was in charge of increasing this collection based on excavations and archaeological research in various places in Peru, as well as appropriate restoration and conservation.^[1]

In 1930, Tello was dismissed. The Peruvian government decided to merge both museums, adopting the name with which it was born: National Museum (Spanish: Museo Nacional). One of the tasks of this institution, whose direction fell to Luis E. Valcárcel, was to supervise the creation of other museums in various cities in Peru. Another important task was the publication of a periodical magazine, the Revista del Museo Nacional, which was published continuously until 2001.^[1]

In 1945, at Tello's request, the newly established Superior Council of Museums once again divided the National Museum into the National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Antropología y Arqueología), under the direction of Tello, and the National Museum of History (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Historia), with Valcárcel at the head. Both museums maintained their location in the palace.^[1]

In 1981 a robbery occurred at the Museum. Some thieves were able to bypass the security system and steal about 220 pieces of gold and silver, including the Tumi lambayeque [es].^[3]

Finally in 1992 they merged again, creating the current museum, and passing under the supervision of the now extinct National Institute of Culture. Among its directors are recognised intellectual personalities from Peru, such as Fernando Silva Santiesteban, Duccio Bonavia [es], Luis Guillermo Lumbreras, María Rostworowski and Franklin Pease [es].^[1]

Collection

The MNAAHP has an enormous variety of historical cultural objects from Peruvian history, housing more than 300,000 pieces that cover the entire human occupation of what is now Peru. The museum's permanent exhibition occupies an area of 23,000 m² spread across 30 rooms.^[1]

The importance and quality of the objects on display and stored in its museum reserves make it the most important museum in Peru. Among its most important treasures are the Crossed Hands of Kotosh, the Raimondi Stele of Chavín, the Tello Obelisk, mantles from Paracas, and various paintings from the viceregal period, mainly from the Cuzco School of painting, and from the Republican period, including works by some renowned painters such as José Gil de Castro.

Former directors

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h de la Puente Candamo, José Agustín (2008). Pueblo Libre: historia, cultura y tradición (in Spanish). Universidad Alas Peruanas. p. 78-95. ISBN 978-9972-210-70-9.
^ Coloma Porcari, César (1988). El Palacio de la Magdalena. Recordando al artífice de esa gran obra, el arquitecto luso-peruano Raúl María Pereira (in Spanish). El Comercio.
^ Kauffmann Doig, Federico (2010-04-04). "Símbolo del nuevo sol" (PDF). El Comercio. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-31.

External links

(in Spanish) National Museum website

12°4′38″S 77°03′43″W / 12.07722°S 77.06194°W / -12.07722; -77.06194

[Puente-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h de la Puente Candamo, José Agustín (2008). Pueblo Libre: historia, cultura y tradición (in Spanish). Universidad Alas Peruanas. p. 78-95. ISBN 978-9972-210-70-9.

[2] Coloma Porcari, César (1988). El Palacio de la Magdalena. Recordando al artífice de esa gran obra, el arquitecto luso-peruano Raúl María Pereira (in Spanish). El Comercio.

[3] Kauffmann Doig, Federico (2010-04-04). "Símbolo del nuevo sol" (PDF). El Comercio. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-31.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Lima landmarks
Pre-Columbian buildings	Huaca Huallamarca Huaca Pucllana Huaca Santa Catalina Pachacamac Puruchuco
Colonial buildings	Balconies of Lima Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Merced Monument Plazoleta Basilica and Convent of San Francisco Catacombs Basilica and Convent of San Pedro Basilica of Santo Domingo Plazuela Casa de Aliaga Casa de Divorciadas Casa de Osambela Casa de Pilatos Casa del Oidor Casa Goyeneche Casa Hacienda Punchauca Casa Matusita Casa O'Higgins Casa Riva-Agüero Casona of the National University of San Marcos Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Art Theatre Cathedral Basilica of Lima Sanctuary Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro Cripta de los Héroes Church of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Church of Saint Catherine of Siena Church of Saint Lazarus Church of the Good Death Church of the Holy Christ of Wonders Church of the Orphans Church of Our Lady of Copacabana Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church of Our Lady of Patronage Church of Saint Anne Church of Saint Augustine Church of Saint Liberata Church of Saint Mary Magdalene Convent of Our Lady of the Angels Cuartel Barbones Fort of Santa Catalina Iglesia de la Recoleta Mogrovejo Hospital Monastery of Saint Rose of Lima National Mint of Peru Palacio de la Magdalena Palacio de Torre Tagle Panteón de los Próceres Plaza de toros de Acho Real Felipe Fortress Royal College of the University of San Marcos Royal Hospital of Saint Andrew Sanctuary and Monastery of Las Nazarenas Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima Seminario de Lima St. Clare's Monastery Mill St. Sebastian's Church Trinitarian Church Walls of Lima
Other touristic buildings	Archbishop's Palace Association of Amateur Artists Atlas Building Bar Cordano BBVA Building Begonias Tower Casa Arenas Loayza Casa de Correos y Telégrafos Casa de las Trece Monedas Casa del Pueblo Casa Fernandini, Lima Casa Fernandini, Santa María del Mar Casa Roosevelt Casa Rusa Casa Sal y Rosas Casa Suárez Chinatown Arch Chocavento Tower Church of Our Lady of the Forsaken Club de la Unión Club Nacional Country Club Lima Hotel Cristo del Pacífico Delfines Hotel & Convention Center Desamparados station Diez de Octubre School Eduardo Dibos Colosseum El Ángel Cemetery Gamarra Government Palace Obelisk Gran Hotel Bolívar Gran Hotel Maury Guadalupe College Hermitage of Barranco Hospital Civil de la Misericordia Hotel Crillón Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Monument Institute of Hygiene Interbank Building Javier Alzamora Valdez Building La Atarjea La Colmena Building La Rosa Náutica Larcomar Teatro La Plaza Library of Congress Lima Civic Center Legislative Palace Lima Convention Center Lima Stock Exchange Building Luis Gálvez Chipoco Stadium Mesa Redonda Monumental Stadium Morro Solar War Monument Mosque of Lima National Geographic Institute National Library of Peru National Maternal Perinatal Institute National Stadium of Peru Palacio de la Exposición Palacio de Miraflores Palacio Municipal Palace of Justice Petroperú Building Public Ministry of Peru Quinta Heeren Quinta Leuro Quinta Presa Rospigliosi Castle Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Church Sheraton Lima Historic Center Stone of Taulichusco The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center Torre Banco de la Nación
Museums and theatres	Aeronautical Museum Bodega y Quadra Museum Canout Theatre Casa Grau Naval Museum Combatants of the Morro de Arica Museum DIRCOTE Museum Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World Gran Teatro Nacional José Carlos Mariátegui Museum Larco Museum Lima Art Museum Metropolitan Museum Morro Solar Planetarium Municipal Theatre Museum Museum of Congress and the Inquisition Museum of Contemporary Art Museum of the Brain Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru Museum of Elections and Democracy Museum of Italian Art Museum of Natural History National Afro-Peruvian Museum National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History National Museum National Museum of Peruvian Culture Naval Museum Pinacotheca of Lima Teatro Colón Teatro Municipal Teatro Peruano Japonés Teatro Segura
Squares and promenades	Cinco esquinas Jirón de la Unión Pasaje Olaya Monument Paseo de los Héroes Navales Las llamas La yunta Paseo Colón Columbus Statue Pizza Blvd. Plaza de la Bandera Plaza Bolívar Plaza Bolognesi Plaza de la Democracia Plaza Dos de Mayo Plaza Francia Statue of Liberty Plaza Grau Monument Plaza Italia Plaza José Faustino Sánchez Carrión Plaza Manco Cápac Monument Plaza Mayor Fountain Plaza Perú Plaza Ramón Castilla Monument Plaza San Martín Lamp of the Three Graces Plazuela de las Artes Plazuela del Teatro Monument
Parks and zoos	Alameda Chabuca Granda Alameda de los Descalzos Museum Bridge of Sighs Campo de Marte Monument Costa Verde Pan-American Complex El Olivar Friendship Park Cultural Centre Museum Heroes of Independence Park Huachipa Zoo Malecón de Miraflores Love Park Villena Bridge Medicinal Botanical Garden Kennedy Park Lachay National Reserve Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Parque de la Exposición Fountain Parque de La Muralla Pizarro statue Parque de la Reserva Parque de las Leyendas Paseo de Aguas Plazuela Chabuca Granda Monument Reducto № 2 Museum University Park Clock
Education	Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University Cayetano Heredia University Federico Villarreal National University National Superior Autonomous School of Fine Arts Cultural Centre National University of Engineering National University of San Marcos Officers' School of the National Police of Peru Peruvian University of Applied Sciences Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Raúl Porras Barrenechea Institute Ricardo Palma University Technological University of Peru University of Engineering and Technology Campus University of Lima
Health	Archbishop Loayza National Hospital Dos de Mayo National Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital San Bartolomé National Hospital Víctor Larco Herrera Hospital
Nearby areas with beaches	Ancón Callao Base Port Chancay Chorrillos La Herradura Miraflores La Pampilla Pucusana
Former	Banco Comercial Barranco Lake Barranco Zoo Cabildo of Lima Casa Alcántara Casa Marcionelli Casa Oechsle Casa Tenaud Church of Our Lady of the Forsaken Church of Saint Mary of Charity Cine Tauro El Sexto Prison Gate of Lima Giacoletti Building Great Clock of Lima Hipódromo de San Felipe Hipódromo de Santa Beatriz Lima Penitentiary Limatambo Airport Limatambo Building Marsano Palace Moorish Arch Museo de la Nación National Stadium San Jorge Prison San Martín barracks Venetian Palace Saint Paul's College Viceregal Palace

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States Israel

History

Collection

Former directors

See also

References

External links