Museo Metales Preciosos (Museum of Pre-Columbian Precious Metals), La Paz

The Museum of Pre-Columbian Precious Metals (Museo Metales Preciosos), established in 1984, is located on Jaén Street in a historic building that holds special significance in Bolivia's cultural heritage. The museum owes its existence to the collection of Fritz Buck, a jeweler who initially acquired artifacts in Peru before making La Paz his home.

Buck's private collection in Sopocachi caught the La Paz municipality's eye. They wanted him to donate it to the Emeterio Díaz Villamil Municipal Museum. Initially reluctant, Buck considered selling it to family to avoid municipal control. But, after negotiations and pressure, an agreement was reached for a new museum in Bolivia to house the collection post-Buck.

In the beginning, the city lacked the necessary infrastructure to construct a museum solely for this collection. As a result, it was decided to repurpose the house of Apolinar Jaén as the museum's venue. Initially referred to as the "Gold Museum," it later evolved into its present form as the "Pre-Columbian Precious Metals Museum."

This museum proudly exhibits a wide range of metal and ceramic artifacts, with a particular emphasis on items crafted from gold and silver. The gold exhibit showcases exquisite pieces such as pectoral diadems, ear ornaments, and decorative elements for clothing and blankets, primarily associated with the Inca culture. Meanwhile, the silver section features various religious and ceremonial objects from diverse indigenous cultures, including the Aymara, Mollo, Wankarani, Chiripa, Tiwanaku, and Inca.