National Library of Chile, National library and Historical Monument in Santiago, Chile
The National Library of Chile sits in a neoclassical building on Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins with marble staircases and decorated halls featuring murals. The structure holds more than 3.5 million items and shares its premises with the National Archive of Chile.
It was founded on August 19, 1813, during Chile's independence period, and relocated to its current site in 1925 after several moves around the city. This location change marked the institution's stabilization as a permanent center for national memory.
The name reflects its role as keeper of the nation's memory, and you can see how different generations of Chileans have left their mark on its collections. The spaces show which stories and ideas have mattered most to the country.
The building connects directly to the Santa Lucía metro station and sits next to Cerro Santa Lucía hill, making it easy to find. Visitors can access reading rooms, a periodicals section, map collections, and digital resources for research and study.
The library holds the Aurora de Chile, the country's first newspaper, as part of its collection and a key document from the early independence period. This piece shows how the institution preserves the most important sources of the nation's history.
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