Chilean National History Museum, History museum at Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile

The Chilean National History Museum sits at Plaza de Armas in Santiago, housed in the former Royal Courthouse building. The collection fills rooms with archaeological finds, military equipment, paintings, and religious objects from different time periods.

The museum was created on 2 May 1911 under President Ramón Barros Luco, driven by Senator Joaquín Figueroa Larraín, after Luis Montt Montt's historical exhibition in the former Urmeneta mansion. It first occupied the Palacio de Bellas Artes, moved in 1940 next to the National Library, and since 1982 has been housed in the Palacio de la Real Audiencia, built 1804–1807 by Juan José de Goycolea y Zañartu and inaugurated in 1808.

The exhibits present how Chilean society changed from pre-Columbian times through the mid-twentieth century. Visitors encounter personal objects, artworks, and documents that reveal how people lived during different periods.

The building offers guided tours with specialized expertise, a research library, and spaces for temporary exhibitions. Access is straightforward at Plaza de Armas, and its location in the historic center makes it easy to explore nearby landmarks.

The building was erected between 1804 and 1807 by Juan José de Goycolea y Zañartu, a disciple of Joaquín Toesca, and inaugurated in 1808 as the seat of the royal courts. In 1811 it hosted Chile's First National Congress, and in 1818 Bernardo O'Higgins made it the government house under the name Palace of Independence. It was declared a National Monument in 1969.