Museo Mapuche de Cañete, Indigenous heritage museum in Cañete, Chile
The Museo Mapuche de Cañete holds a substantial collection of artifacts representing Mapuche culture, including textiles, silver ornaments, everyday tools, and restored ceramic vessels. The displays are organized throughout the building to show visitors the craftsmanship and daily life of this people.
The museum was founded in 1969 and opened to visitors in 1977, having relocated several times before settling at its current location on Camino Contulmo. It was established to preserve and document the material culture of the Mapuche people.
The collection shows how Mapuche people lived and worked through textiles with intricate patterns, silver ornaments, and everyday objects. Visitors can observe how these crafting traditions continue to matter for local communities today.
Admission is free for visitors exploring the exhibits, though the facility sometimes closes for maintenance work. It is helpful to check in advance about opening days since these can change seasonally.
In 2010, local Mapuche communities renamed the building Ruka Kimvn taiñ Volil in honor of a former leader who had lived there. This name connects the physical structure to the family history that shaped the property.
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