Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum
Encyclopedia
The Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia) is a public museum located in the Caballito
section of Buenos Aires
, Argentina
.
, nationwide, owes its existence to a proposal made by Bernardino Rivadavia
before the First Triumvirate
(a precursor to modern Argentine government) in 1812. The ongoing struggle for Independence shelved Rivadavia's project, however, until 1823, when he revived the idea as a member of Governor Martín Rodríguez's cabinet.
The original museum opened in 1826 and was housed downtown
in a loft inside the Santo Domingo Convent, which had been made available for the purpose following Rivadavia's expulsion of the Dominican order
from Buenos Aires. Rivadavia closely oversaw the institution, the first of its kind in South America, and appointed Italian Argentine
botanist Carlos Ferraris as its first director. Receiving a large gift of material and equipment from Presbyterian Minister Bartolomé Muñoz, the museum housed a collection 800 animal and 1500 mineral specimens, among others. Rivadavia also appointed a noted Italian astronomer
, Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti, who installed the nation's first observatory
, meteorological station and experimental physics
laboratory during his tenure at the facility from 1828 to 1835. Among those who consulted the museum's growing body of research was Alexander von Humboldt
, who requisitioned numerous meteorological studies for the Institut de France
.
The rise of the paramount Governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas
, proved to be the renowned institution's undoing, however. Devoutly religious, Governor Rosas returned the convent to the Dominican order in October 1835, forcing the museum to relocate to smaller, nearby buildings. Much of its equipment and research was lost during the forced relocation, and Ferrari and Mossotti returned to Italy
. Rosas' overthrow in 1852 helped lead to the creation of the Society of Friends of Natural History, who had the museum relocated in 1854 to the "Illuminated block
," the former Temple of St. Ignatius and its prestigious academy maintained by the Jesuits
before their suppression
in 1773. The recovering museum motivated German naturalist Hermann Burmeister
to stay in Buenos Aires following a visit in 1857 recommended to him by Humboldt, leading to his appointment as its director in 1862. Burmeister founded the Argentine Paleontological Society in concert with the University of Buenos Aires
and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Córdoba
in 1870, helping extend interest in the field to the nation's hinterland. Burmeister also founded the museum's first periodical in 1874, opening the museum and its research to active peer review. Notable among the European researchers who took notice was Dutch zoologist Hendrik Weyenbergh, who arrived in Córdoba, where he founded the Argentine National Academy of Sciences.
The museum published numerous works under Burmeister's direction, who also donated a sizable part of its growing collection for the sake of the new La Plata Museum
in 1884. An accident at the museum cost its noted German Argentine director his life in 1892, however. The museum was later directed by zoologist Florentino Ameghino
, its first director born in Argentina. Ameghino incorporated adjoining buildings into the museum, which remained inadequate for its vast collection and facilities. Addressing this, Director Martín Doello-Jurado secured Congress' authorization for new museum facilities in 1925. Built on the western end of Parque Centenario
, the first wing of the new museum was dedicated in 1929 and the institution was inaugurated in 1937.
Part of the museum's collection was transferred to the University of Buenos Aires Ethnographic Museum during the administration of President Juan Perón
, who dismissed Doello-Jurado in 1946 as part of a wider intervention in national academics. Perón, however, also ordered the construction in 1948 of the museum's annex, which housed the National Natural Sciences Institute. The museum was transferred to the National Research Council (CONICET) in 1996 and, continuing to thrive, an internet data bank was created for the museum in 2002.
macn.gov.ar: history
Besides the Natural Sciences Institute, the museum houses thirteen permanent exhibition halls, including an aquarium
, a display with specimens collected from Argentina's numerous research station
s in Antarctica
, a geological
collection centered around meteorite
s found in Argentina, a paleontology
section notable for its carnotaurus
, eoraptor
, herrerasaurus
and patagosaurus
fossils, among others, and a cenozoic
paleontology display featuring glyptodon
, macrauchenia
, megatherium
and smilodon
fossils. Academics and the general public can also avail themselves of a science auditorium, an art gallery, library and a café.
macn.gov.ar: museum
Caballito, Buenos Aires
Caballito is a barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is the only barrio in the administrative division Comuna 6....
section of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
History and overview
The museum, the most important of its kind in Buenos Aires and second only to the La Plata Museum of Natural SciencesLa Plata Museum
The La Plata Museum is a natural history museum in La Plata, Argentina.The building, 135 meters long, today houses 3 million fossils and relics , an amphitheatre, opened in 1992, and a 58,000-volume library, serving over 400 university researchers...
, nationwide, owes its existence to a proposal made by Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia was the first president of Argentina, from February 8, 1826 to July 7, 1827 . He was a politician of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, Argentina today...
before the First Triumvirate
First Triumvirate (Argentina)
The First Triumvirate was the executive body of government that replaced the Junta Grande in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata...
(a precursor to modern Argentine government) in 1812. The ongoing struggle for Independence shelved Rivadavia's project, however, until 1823, when he revived the idea as a member of Governor Martín Rodríguez's cabinet.
The original museum opened in 1826 and was housed downtown
Montserrat, Buenos Aires
Monserrat is a neighbourhood located in the east of the Buenos Aires CBD. The district features some of the most important public buildings in Buenos Aires, including city hall, the city legislature, Casa Rosada, the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires and the Libertador Building , among...
in a loft inside the Santo Domingo Convent, which had been made available for the purpose following Rivadavia's expulsion of the Dominican order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
from Buenos Aires. Rivadavia closely oversaw the institution, the first of its kind in South America, and appointed Italian Argentine
Italian Argentine
An Italian Argentine is a person born in Argentina of Italian ancestry. It is estimated up to 25 million Argentines have some degree of Italian descent...
botanist Carlos Ferraris as its first director. Receiving a large gift of material and equipment from Presbyterian Minister Bartolomé Muñoz, the museum housed a collection 800 animal and 1500 mineral specimens, among others. Rivadavia also appointed a noted Italian astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti, who installed the nation's first observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, meteorological station and experimental physics
Experimental physics
Within the field of physics, experimental physics is the category of disciplines and sub-disciplines concerned with the observation of physical phenomena in order to gather data about the universe...
laboratory during his tenure at the facility from 1828 to 1835. Among those who consulted the museum's growing body of research was Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
, who requisitioned numerous meteorological studies for the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
.
The rise of the paramount Governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
, proved to be the renowned institution's undoing, however. Devoutly religious, Governor Rosas returned the convent to the Dominican order in October 1835, forcing the museum to relocate to smaller, nearby buildings. Much of its equipment and research was lost during the forced relocation, and Ferrari and Mossotti returned to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Rosas' overthrow in 1852 helped lead to the creation of the Society of Friends of Natural History, who had the museum relocated in 1854 to the "Illuminated block
Illuminated Block
The Illuminated Block is a historical landmark in the Monserrat neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-History:The Society of Jesus arrived in the newly-founded village of Buenos Ayres in 1608, establishing their first mission on a 2 hectare lot which had earlier been aside by Spanish...
," the former Temple of St. Ignatius and its prestigious academy maintained by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
before their suppression
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
in 1773. The recovering museum motivated German naturalist Hermann Burmeister
Hermann Burmeister
Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister was a German zoologist, entomologist, and herpetologist.Burmeister was born in Stralsund and became a professor of Zoology at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg from 1837 to 1861...
to stay in Buenos Aires following a visit in 1857 recommended to him by Humboldt, leading to his appointment as its director in 1862. Burmeister founded the Argentine Paleontological Society in concert with the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
in 1870, helping extend interest in the field to the nation's hinterland. Burmeister also founded the museum's first periodical in 1874, opening the museum and its research to active peer review. Notable among the European researchers who took notice was Dutch zoologist Hendrik Weyenbergh, who arrived in Córdoba, where he founded the Argentine National Academy of Sciences.
The museum published numerous works under Burmeister's direction, who also donated a sizable part of its growing collection for the sake of the new La Plata Museum
La Plata Museum
The La Plata Museum is a natural history museum in La Plata, Argentina.The building, 135 meters long, today houses 3 million fossils and relics , an amphitheatre, opened in 1992, and a 58,000-volume library, serving over 400 university researchers...
in 1884. An accident at the museum cost its noted German Argentine director his life in 1892, however. The museum was later directed by zoologist Florentino Ameghino
Florentino Ameghino
Florentino Ameghino was an Argentine naturalist, paleontologist, anthropologist and zoologist.Born in Luján, son of Italian immigrants, Ameghino was a self-taught naturalist, and focused his study on the lands of the southern Pampas...
, its first director born in Argentina. Ameghino incorporated adjoining buildings into the museum, which remained inadequate for its vast collection and facilities. Addressing this, Director Martín Doello-Jurado secured Congress' authorization for new museum facilities in 1925. Built on the western end of Parque Centenario
Parque Centenario
Parque Centenario is an extensive public park in the Caballito district of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Overview:Presiding over a rapidly expanding city, the Buenos Aires City Council in 1908 approved the purchase of a 10 hectare plot belonging to Parmenio Piñero, a local brickmaker, for the purpose...
, the first wing of the new museum was dedicated in 1929 and the institution was inaugurated in 1937.
Part of the museum's collection was transferred to the University of Buenos Aires Ethnographic Museum during the administration of President Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
, who dismissed Doello-Jurado in 1946 as part of a wider intervention in national academics. Perón, however, also ordered the construction in 1948 of the museum's annex, which housed the National Natural Sciences Institute. The museum was transferred to the National Research Council (CONICET) in 1996 and, continuing to thrive, an internet data bank was created for the museum in 2002.
macn.gov.ar: history
Besides the Natural Sciences Institute, the museum houses thirteen permanent exhibition halls, including an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, a display with specimens collected from Argentina's numerous research station
Research station
A research station is a station built for the purpose of conducting scientific research. Research station sites might include outer space and oceans. Many nations have research stations in Antarctica; Showa Station, Halley and Troll are examples...
s in Antarctica
Argentine Antarctica
Argentine Antarctica is a sector of Antarctica claimed by Argentina as part of its national territory. The Argentine Antarctic region, consisting of the Antarctic Peninsula and a triangular section extending to the South Pole, is delimited by the 25° West and 74° West meridians and the 60° South...
, a geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
collection centered around meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s found in Argentina, a paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
section notable for its carnotaurus
Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus was a large predatory dinosaur. Only one species, Carnotaurus sastrei has been described so far.Carnotaurus lived in Patagonia, Argentina during the Campanian or Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous...
, eoraptor
Eoraptor
Eoraptor was one of the world's earliest dinosaurs. It was a two-legged saurischian, close to the ancestry of theropods and sauropodomorphs. It lived ca. 231.4 million years ago, in what is now the northwestern region of Argentina...
, herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. All known specimens of this carnivore have been discovered in rocks of late Ladinian age in northwestern Argentina...
and patagosaurus
Patagosaurus
Patagosaurus was a large herbivorous dinosaur from the long-necked group Sauropoda. It reached a length of 18 meters. Similar to other primitive eusauropods, it was rather heavily built and similar to Cetiosaurus in general appearance. It is known from a dozen individuals, though some referred...
fossils, among others, and a cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
paleontology display featuring glyptodon
Glyptodon
Glyptodon was a large, armored mammal of the family Glyptodontidae, a relative of armadillos that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch. It was roughly the same size and weight as a Volkswagen Beetle, though flatter in shape...
, macrauchenia
Macrauchenia
Macrauchenia was a long-necked and long-limbed, three-toed South American ungulate mammal, typifying the order Litopterna. The oldest fossils date back to around 7 million years ago, and M...
, megatherium
Megatherium
Megatherium was a genus of elephant-sized ground sloths endemic to Central America and South America that lived from the Pliocene through Pleistocene existing approximately...
and smilodon
Smilodon
Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
fossils. Academics and the general public can also avail themselves of a science auditorium, an art gallery, library and a café.
macn.gov.ar: museum