Museo de la Nacion in Peru
A great place to visit before you go out exploring all of Peru’s amazing archaeological sites, Museo de la Nacion (Museum of the Nation) is an anthropological and archaeological museum for the study of the art and history of the aboriginal peoples of Peru. This national museum is the largest in Lima and is considered by most to be the most important in the country.
For Americans and others that speak English, this museum is a joy to visit because most of the exhibitions offer explanations in both Spanish and English. Furthermore, the informational displays, which include artifacts, photos, and a variety of other items, are a great introduction to other attractions that are sure to be on your list of must-sees, including Machu Picchu and other amazing Peruvian pre-Colonial sites.
Housed in a brutalist-style concrete tower that doesn’t do justice to what’s inside, the Museo de la Nacion consists of three sprawling floors and the exhibits are arranged in chronological order. This helps visitors better understand who came first in Peruvian history! Displays begin with the Chavin stone carvings of Peru’s earliest civilization and end with a vast display of Inca art and artifacts, as the Incas were the last civilization before colonization by the Spaniards.
The museum offers scale models of most of the major ruins in Peru. Visitors find these quite interesting and an opportunity to view these and read about their history make visiting the real thing much more enjoyable.
One of the museum’s most popular exhibits, however, is Yuyanapaq, an exhibit named for the Quecha word that means “to remember.” This display was organized by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Peru and opened in 2003. It is dubbed a tribute to the country’s “Internal Conflict”, which spanned the years from 1980 through 2000. The display includes mostly photographs but is a true nod to the saying “a picture paints a thousand words.” Most modern guide books point to this exhibit as a must do, especially for those with a keen interest in modern Peruvian history. About 70,000 Peruvians lost their life during this period of internal strife and the exhibit is homage to their suffering. A permanent museum for this display and more photos and testimonials from that era is in the works.
Also included inside the Museo de la Nacion is the Museo Peruano de Clencias de Salud, which boasts an impressive collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and mummies as well as an excellent narrative on the pre-Columbian lifestyle, divided into five sections – food, medicine, disease, healing, and life.
The museum also hosts occasional temporary exhibits, which are housed in the basement area. Visiting these exhibits sometimes demands an extra entrance fee. There’s also a bookshop and a cafeteria in the basement.
This museum is open daily and the entrance fee is quite reasonable. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to see all the exhibits.
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