Museo de La Plata

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Museo de La Plata, located in the heart of the Paseo del Bosque in the city of La Plata, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is an impressive and welcoming destination for anyone with a curiosity for natural and cultural history. Set within a grand neoclassical building adorned with Pre‑Columbian motifs, the museum offers visitors a journey through the evolution of life, cultures, and nature itself. Its distinguished architectural features—such as the monumental portico with six Corinthian columns and flanking statues of Smilodon—make the visit not only educational, but also aesthetically inspiring. Whether one is drawn by the fossil displays, anthropological collections, or the very design of the building, the Museo de La Plata provides a rich and uplifting experience for all who attend.

About the Museum

The Museo de La Plata was founded in 1884 by Francisco Pascasio Moreno and opened to the public in 1888. It is part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Museum of the National University of La Plata. The museum’s elegant neoclassical structure, designed by Federico Heynemann and Enrique Åberg, is distinguished by its oval—or spiral—floor plan that allows visitors to trace the evolution of life in a sequential, immersive fashion.

Inside, around twenty exhibition rooms are arranged in a spiral sequence. The ground floor introduces visitors to topics of Geology, Paleontology, and Zoology. These exhibit halls display fossils from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras, alongside specimens of South American megafauna such as glyptodonts, toxodonts, macrauchenias, megatherium, and Smilodon—some reconstructed, others original.

Ascending to the upper levels, one encounters exhibitions in Biological Anthropology, Ethnography, and Archaeology representing the cultural heritage of Argentina and Latin America. The museum also features a striking Egyptian Room, which houses original artifacts—including three 2,700‑year‑old mummies in intact sarcophagi—obtained through international archaeological campaigns conducted in the early 1960s, in partnership with UNESCO and the governments of Egypt and Sudan.

Beyond exhibits, the Museo de La Plata houses the Florentino Ameghino Library, established in the late nineteenth century and renamed in 1996 in honor of the distinguished naturalist. This library serves students, researchers, and faculty, offering access to over 32,000 volumes, periodicals, doctoral theses, and other scholarly works. Its services include in‑place consultation, interlibrary loans, digital resources, and Wi‑Fi enabled access to scientific databases.

Guided visits, led by trained university staff, enrich the experience by offering insights into both natural history and cultural diversity. Presentations are carefully woven into the museum’s displays, ensuring that visitors grasp the scientific importance and social context of the exhibits. Visitors can also borrow free audioguides in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, available through the museum’s website, to enhance their understanding independently.

Interesting Facts

More than three million objects are held in the museum’s collections, though only a portion is on display at any time.
The museum’s architectural design is based on a spiral floor plan intended to illustrate the progression of life, from Earth’s formation to the emergence of human cultures.
In the Paleontology halls, one can marvel at iconic specimens such as a Megatherium skeleton, fossilized skin of a Mylodon, skeletons of glyptodonts, toxodonts, macrauchenias, and the imposing Smilodon.
The museum’s Egyptian Room contains original objects excavated from the temple of Ramses II at Aksha, as well as three remarkably preserved mummies in sarcophagi.
The Florentino Ameghino Library, integral to the museum, offers a rich collection of academic material and digital access for students and researchers.
Audioguides available in Spanish, English, and Portuguese help visitors independently explore and understand the museum’s key exhibits.
Guided tours are led by knowledgeable staff from the university, allowing visitors to delve deeper into themes such as geological history, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Website: museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/

Facebook: facebook.com/MuseoLP/

Conclusion

The Museo de La Plata stands as a vibrant celebration of natural science, culture, and thoughtful museum design. From the moment a visitor steps onto its grand staircase guarded by Smilodons, they are invited into a carefully curated narrative—from the deep geological past to modern human cultures. Each gallery, whether it houses fossils, cultural artifacts, or ancient Egyptian relics, communicates the wonder of discovery and the importance of our shared heritage.

Beyond being a repository of specimens, the museum is a living institution—complete with a historic library, guided educational tours, and accessible audioguides in three languages. It nurtures both public appreciation and academic inquiry, embracing evolution in more than one sense: from prehistoric life to the progressive journey of knowledge itself.

For anyone visiting La Plata or those seeking inspiration in science and history, the Museo de La Plata promises a compelling and uplifting experience—a place where the story of the planet and humanity unfolds in remarkable surroundings, with clarity, beauty, and purpose.