Museo Regional de Magallanes (Magallanes Regional Museum), Punta Arenas

Housed in the opulent Braun-Menendez mansion, the Magallanes Regional Museum in Punta Arenas offers a captivating journey through the region’s aristocratic past and early settlement history. The lavish residence-built in 1903 by French architect Antoine Beaulier for Mauricio Braun and Josefina Menéndez-features original European furnishings and decorations brought from France, England, and Spain. Visitors can admire these stunning pieces in the museum’s Period Room, where styles from neoclassicism to Art Nouveau speak to the eccentric luxury of Patagonia’s turn-of-the-century elite.

The museum goes beyond grandeur, diving into the historical and cultural roots of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region. Its History Room tells the story of Punta Arenas from the age of exploration to the early 20th century, through objects, maps, photographs, and documents that reveal the social, economic, and political fabric of the region. The exhibits highlight the cultural diversity shaped by waves of migration and the ambitions of settlers who transformed this remote southern outpost into a thriving city.

Completing the experience, the Zocalo (basement level) reveals the everyday life behind the mansion’s glamour, showcasing the original kitchen, bathrooms, and servants' quarters. Temporary exhibitions rotate throughout the year, and the museum also hosts cultural events and art displays. Declared a National Historic Monument in 1974 and donated to the Chilean state in 1983, the museum today stands as a beacon of heritage and an interesting site for anyone wanting to understand Patagonia’s complex and fascinating past.