De Palacio de la Exposición a Museo Nacional de Historia Natural: Estudio iconográfico de un monumento histórico (1875-1980)

Abstract

The current building occupied by the National Museum of Natural History in Chile was originally created in 1875 in Santiago de Chile to host the First International Exhibition of Agriculture and Industry.

This building acquired great relevance at that time and its facade became a sort of icon that was refl ected in the coining of medals, coins and banknotes. Subsequently, the image of the building has continued to be represented on postage stamps, pictures and tourist postcards. Concluded the Fair, and given the notoriety achieved by the building, the Supreme Government considered the advisability of doing permanent headquarters of the National Museum, now the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural.

The aim of this paper is to show the iconography associated with this property.