The Saavedra Mansion where it is located today Cornelio de Saavedra Historical Museum It was not born with a museum vocation. It was built around 1870 as the headquarters of the farm of Luis María Saavedra, nephew of Cornelio Saavedra, president of the First Board.
As Buenos Aires advanced north, the old residence was integrated into the urban fabric. When the need arose in the early 20th century to create a space dedicated to the preservation of local and national history, the mansion seemed a logical location.
He The museum was founded on October 6, 1921 and since then he has taken on the task of preserving and disseminating various moments of Argentina’s past.
The building was not always his final headquarters. The museum operated for years at various locations in downtown Buenos Aires, accompanying the moves forced by city reforms. New In 1941 it was decided to use the old Saavedra Ranch as a permanent home. A decision that ultimately sealed the connection between the house and the city’s historical memory.
The museum rooms are arranged chronologically and allow you to explore different key eras. From the Viceroyalty and the English invasions to the formation of the nation state, Each room offers an accessible reading of the political, social and cultural processes that have shaped the country.
Figures like Cornelio Saavedra, José de San Martín, Bernardino Rivadavia and Juan Manuel de Rosas They appear in the context of their time, along with less visible but equally relevant topics such as the role of women, daily life and the social changes of the 19th century.
The tour also covers episodes such as War of the Triple Alliance, the organization of the modern state and the effects of the immigration process. The permanent exhibition lasts until 1912, a key year due to the donation of Ricardo Zemborain’s collections, which formed the first historical museum in the city of Buenos Aires.
Beyond its content Saavedra’s villa is a piece of history in itself. The building responds to the Italianate style characteristic of late 19th century family villas. Between 1870 and 1880 it was adapted to the needs of a country house close to the city and later adapted to the changes in the urban environment.
Despite these changes, it preserves original elements that allow us to read its evolution. Galleries, courtyards, large proportions and a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces are some of the architectural details of the period that can be observed.
This architecture enhances the experience of the visitor, who not only observes objects but also walks through a building that is also part of history.
The Museum It houses more than 23,000 pieces, including documents, furniture, weapons, clothing, silverware, iconography and everyday objects from the period.. Each element offers a specific insight into the way people lived, ruled and thought at different stages of Argentina’s history.
Today this place is in Saavedra functions as an active space with exhibitions and educational activities and cultural proposals that maintain their connection to the community.
In a city that is constantly changing, the mansion plays a quiet but fundamental role. It allows you to pause, look back and understand that the history of Buenos Aires was also born in houses, farms and neighborhoods that still leave visible traces.
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