Palacio Cousiño, Neoclassical palace in Dieciocho Street, Santiago, Chile.

Palacio Cousiño is a neoclassical structure on Dieciocho Street in Santiago commune that now serves as a museum displaying several rooms with original furnishings. The interior retains marble flooring, carved wooden ceiling beams, and wall coverings made from European fabrics imported from France and Italy during its construction.

French architect Paul Lathoud designed this residence for Isidora Goyenechea, widow of mining entrepreneur Luis Cousiño, completing construction in 1878. The completion marked a new standard for private residences in Chile and reflected the growing wealth of mine owners during the 19th century.

The residence reflects the lifestyle of wealthy mining families in Chile and regularly hosted social gatherings attended by Santiago's upper class. The original furnished rooms with French furniture and art collections still convey a direct sense of how this social group lived during that era.

The palace stands at Dieciocho Street 438 in Santiago commune, on a plot of 11,000 square metres, with 3,500 square metres built over two floors and 12 salons. The second floor was destroyed by fire in 1968 and rebuilt between 1970 and 1980, so the visit centres on the ground-floor rooms. Look for the entrance hall's Italian majolica floor and the eight oils by Georges Clairin.

The palace's electrical generator was bought from Thomas Edison, a friend of the family, and Isidora Goyenechea gave the current to the neighbouring houses on Dieciocho Street. The central hall holds a half-tonne teardrop chandelier. The house also had simultaneous hot and cold running water.