Museo Naval y Marítimo de Punta Arenas (Naval and Maritime Museum of Punta Arenas), Punta Arenas

Regional historical museum whose mission is to preserve, investigate and disseminate, through the collections in custody, the naval and maritime history of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region. The Museum was created on November 4, 1994, beginning to operate on January 10, 1995, in its current historic building that was formerly the Command in Chief of the Magallanes Naval Station, built during the years 1908 and 1910 by the architect Miguel Bonifetti. At the date of its inauguration, the Museum had the Naval History Rooms; Arturo Prat, Regional Maritime Interests and Video Library, plus a boat show. During 1998, a new Room was implemented in which the history of the old shipyard-dockyard of the Bonacic Brothers is shown.

The Naval Museum of Punta Arenas, inaugurated in 1994, is in the historic building of the Magallanes Naval Command. Built in 1908, acquired by the Navy in 1912. Its mission: to preserve, investigate and disseminate the naval and maritime history of Magellan and Chilean Antarctica.

A naval and maritime museum with historical exhibits that include a fine account of the Chilean mission that rescued Sir Ernest Shackleton’s crew from Antarctica. The most imaginative display is a replica ship complete with bridge, maps, charts and radio room.

The Museum was created on November 4, 1994 and began operating on January 10, 1995 in its current historic building, formerly the Command in Chief of the Magallanes Naval Station and built during the years 1908 and 1910 by the architect Miguel Bonifetti. At the date of its inauguration, the Museum had the Naval History, Arturo Prat, Regional Maritime Interests and Video Library Rooms, plus a nautical show. During 1998, a new Room was implemented in which the history of the old shipyard-dockyard of the Bonacic Brothers is shown.

The past and present of the province of Magallanes revolves around stories and stories, some tragic and others successful, about the sea. For this reason, the Chilean Navy decided to create the Punta Arenas Naval and Maritime Museum in 1994 , with the aim of disseminating, preserving and increasing the historical heritage of the Magallanes region and Chilean Antarctica. In this way, the museum not only bears witness to the takeover of the Strait of Magellan, but also expresses how the sea was for a long time the only means of communication and integration of the Magellan region with the rest of the national territory. The building where this institution operates corresponded to the Command in Chief of the Magallanes naval station and was built by the architect Bonifetti during the years 1908 and 1910. In its beginnings, the museum had the Naval History room, the Arturo Prat room, the Regional Maritime Interests room and the video library, as well as a boat show. In 1998, a new room was opened referring to the history of the old shipyard and dock of the Bonacic brothers. These Yugoslav immigrants settled in Punta Arenas and in 1896 built the first shipyard not only in the city, but in the entire southern region. Currently, in the museum you can see a model and scale replicas of the building. With more than 1,613 pieces, it also exhibits remains of shipwrecks and vessels, such as that of the English corvette Doterel, which sank in 1881 after a spectacular explosion, old navigation equipment and maritime instruments, among other objects. In addition to historical, technological and biographical collections, the museum also organizes artistic exhibitions. ***PH***