Museum of Weapons, Buenos Aires

The Museum of Weapons (Spanish: Museo de Armas de la Nacion) in Buenos Aires is a repository of arms and ammunition used in Argentina down the ages. It is located in the military circuit of the city near the Palacio Paz.

Although rather small, the museum has a vast collection of arms used from the times of the Spanish conquest. There are several bronze busts of military heroes of the country and a special section devoted to the recent Falkland’s War fought against Great Britain over the Falklands Islands from the Argentinean point of view. The Argentineans attempted to capture the Islas Malvinas ( Falklands Islands) claiming that they formed part of their territory. The museum has 17 rooms and takes visitors through the history and evolution of weaponry. The curator is Isidro Abel Vides, a Falkland’s War veteran.

Exhibits include armor, uniforms worn by the Argentinean army, samurai suits, 12th-century daggers and swords, bayonets, antique and modern rifles, Gatling and machine guns and rocket launchers. A section for children has toy soldiers showing the history of military costume in Argentina. Some toy soldiers also wear international military costumes. There are also several models on Argentinean forts. The special section on the Falkland’s War has a display about the sinking of the warship, General Belgrano.

Why You Should Visit:
For a small fee, you get to see the 18 rooms full of weapons, some of which you never knew were ever invented or used.
The Japanese/Samurai section alone is very cool and makes the museum worth visiting.

Tip:
Photos are allowed!