National Archives of Chile, National archives in Santiago, Chile
The National Archives of Chile occupies a neoclassical building at 50 Miraflores Street in Santiago, housing government papers and historical documents that span over four centuries. The collection includes colonial-era records through modern times, with administrative files, court documents, notarial records, and maps that document the country's governmental and legal development.
The institution formed in the mid-1800s from specialized archives created by government agencies, beginning as an office of Chile's National Institute of Statistics in 1847. Over time, major state archives were consolidated into a single repository to preserve and manage the nation's important records.
The Archives hold documents from colonial times onward that show how different groups of people lived and worked across the centuries. Walking through the collection, you encounter records of everyday transactions, family matters, and community life that reveal what daily existence was actually like.
The reading rooms are located in the eastern wing of the National Library building, where researchers can access documents for study. It helps to know in advance what materials you want to examine, since the collection is extensive and hands-on research takes time.
The collection includes records documenting Nazi operations in Chile during World War II, including espionage activities and escape routes used at that time. These uncommon documents reveal how global political conflicts left marks even in South America.
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