Museo Infantil, Children's museum in Quinta Normal Park, Santiago, Chile.
The Museo Infantil occupies the Obrecht House in Quinta Normal Park and features interactive exhibits and learning spaces designed for children ages 2 to 13. The rooms let young visitors try things out and discover what interests them through hands-on activities.
The Obrecht House, a Victorian building in Quinta Normal Park, was inaugurated in 1875 as the home of French astronomer and engineer Jean Albert Obrecht Hubert, who worked at the National Astronomical Observatory. The Museo Infantil began operating there in 1989, and interactive rooms were added in 1993. It has been closed since the 27 February 2010 earthquake caused damage.
The museum's collection centred on toys from earlier decades: dolls, cars, trains and lead soldiers. These objects were shown to illustrate how childhood and play changed across generations in Chile. The museum has been closed since the 27 February 2010 earthquake, so the toys are no longer on public display.
The museum has been closed since the 27 February 2010 earthquake damaged the Obrecht House, so it cannot be visited inside. The building stands in Quinta Normal Park, reachable via the Quinta Normal metro station on Line 5. Check with Corpdicyt, the administering corporation, about any reopening before planning a visit.
The museum opened in 1989, not 1985 as some sources state, and its first director was Irene de la Jara, later head of education at Chile's National Directorate of Museums. The interactive rooms came in 1993, four years after opening.
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