National Museum of Immigration, Immigration museum in Retiro district, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The National Museum of Immigration stands in a four-story building in the Retiro district of Buenos Aires that once provided accommodation for those arriving at the port. The Beaux-Arts facade rises above Antártida Argentina Avenue with tall windows and stone arches on each floor.
The building opened in 1911 as the Hotel de los Inmigrantes and received newcomers arriving mainly from Europe. It remained in operation until 1953 and was later converted into a museum to preserve the experiences of these families.
Display rooms hold original suitcases, clothing, and handwritten letters from families who came from Italy, Spain, Poland, and Syria. Visitors can enter the waiting rooms where newcomers had their papers checked before entering the country.
Admission is free, and guided tours take place on weekends. The building stands at the end of Antártida Argentina Avenue near the waterfront area of Puerto Madero.
A long underground tunnel connected the building directly to the port so passengers could process quickly after arrival. The passage also served as a route for inspectors checking the health of arrivals.
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