Again updating and again memories flashing in my beloved Madrid! So much of my life centered around this city, I guess more than any other. If life could had made me lived here forever, oh well we will go on with the memories of always. This one was one I came in a class trip as a young boy, and then stop. Later in life came with the family for a memorable visit! Hope you enjoy as I ,the Museo de América of Madrid!
This is a dandy to visit. I was glad to visit with the family . I really was missing something beautiful ,educational, historical, architecturally inspiring a real museum of real facts and events. I love it! I am talking about the Museum of Americas or Museo de América up Calle de la Princesa ,right past the Faro de Moncloa (see post) on a hilly area just behind the lighthouse tower or Faro de Moncloa. The wonderful Museo de América, a museum on all Spain relates to Latin America and our cultures.
The Museum of America or Museo de América is a national museum is dependent on the Ministry of Culture. There are exhibited collections of art, archaeology and ethnology of America (Latin) since pre-Columbian times to present times. The idea of collecting such collections, envisaged since the time of Cardinal Cisneros, was concretized by government law of 1941 ; the works, which began in 1943 , finished in 1954. Once the institution was established , the collection that was exhibited in rooms of the National Archaeological Museum were transferred to its definitive location in 1962. The works kept at the museum are of various origins. They are made up of donations, legacies and progressive acquisitions, and essentially of collections formerly deposited in the National Museum of Archaeology. Until 1868, these works were stored at the National Museum of Natural Sciences. In 1771, king Charles III had founded a Royal Cabinet of Natural History, containing objects from the first archaeological excavations and scientific expeditions. This small collection is the original nucleus of the museum.
The collections cover a period extending from prehistoric times to the present day; The essentials, however, consist of pieces of pre-Columbian archaeology, ethnography and colonial art. They bring together more than 25 000 objects. Through a magnificent collection of pre-Columbian objects (such as those coming from Peru and Guatemala), from the Colonial era (Andean schools and the Viceroyalty of New Spain), and from the contemporary indigenous peoples (from the North west Coast to Amazonas), and using an anthropological discourse, presided over by respect for all cultures, the Museum of America offers the possibility of stopping at the many objects, texts and images that have spread for centuries realities and inventions on America. In this way it is possible to recognize how their peoples and cultures evolved through more than 12,000 years of history, how their models of society were articulated, how it was their contribution to the world of religion, and what instruments they used to communicate with each other.
The permanent exhibition is organized in five parts:
Knowledge of America: This space seeks to present the way in which the knowledge of the American continent and its peoples has been built in Europe, through the exhibition of the myths that once spread over the New World, Chronicles, Expeditions and mapping.
The Reality of America: This part is intended to be a presentation of the settlement of America from the original migrations to the development of the different indigenous cultures, presented chronologically.
Society: this part evokes the existence of the various American societies: Tribal Societies and complex societies. It is treated daily life, through housing, the economy, the organization of society, the power.
Religion: in this space are exposed the main deities, as well as myths and sacred places, rites, objects of worship,… This part is equally interested in the religions of the United States and the Catholic religion, established by the Europeans.
Communication: Here, the exhibition focuses on the development of written and oral communication in America. It is based on Codex, but also on native languages and Spanish.
The exhibition of objects of art or archaeology are complemented by audiovisual presentations.
Some webpages to help you plan your trip here and you must I said!
The Madrid tourist office on the Museo de America: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/museo-de-america
The official Museo de America: https://museomadrid.com/museo-de-america/
The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Spain on the Museo de America: http://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/museodeamerica/el-museo.html
Hope you have enjoy this brief description and encourages you to come over to the Museum of America. You will be glad to know more about my beloved Spain and the people of Hispanic America.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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