Cuartel General del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago, Fire department headquarters in Plaza de Armas, Chile
The fire department headquarters is a four-story building with a 37-meter tower that rises above Paseo Puente street. The structure features corner turrets on all sides and houses administrative offices, a fire museum, and retail spaces on the ground level.
The building was constructed in 1895 and replaced a colonial-era structure that once served as both stables and a prison. The site was originally owned by Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago's founder, giving it deep historical roots.
The building displays Second Empire architectural style with Renaissance touches, visible in its clay brick walls and wooden interior beams. Its distinctive towers at each corner have become a landmark feature of the Plaza de Armas skyline.
The building is easily accessed from the Plaza de Armas and within walking distance of other downtown sites. The fire museum here is connected to the Museo Histórico Nacional, allowing you to combine visits to both spaces.
The tower once housed an alarm bell imported from the United States by Henry Meiggs between 1865 and 1866. This bell served as a critical alert system for firefighters responding to emergencies before modern communication tools existed.
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