Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas, Colonial history museum in central La Paz, Bolivia.
Museo Costumbrista Juan de Vargas is a two-story building on Jaen Street displaying photographs, artifacts, ceramic figurines, paintings, garments, and detailed dioramas of daily city life. The spaces present traditional masks, local dress, and miniature models showing customs across different time periods.
The museum was founded in 1979 and named after Juan de Vargas, the first Mayor of La Paz. Its collections document major events such as the 1810 execution of Murillo.
The museum displays masks and garments that have been worn by residents for generations, shaping the city's identity. Visitors see how specific costumes connect to festivals and ceremonies, and which traditional crafts remain active today.
The museum is easy to find, located on a central street and clearly marked from outside. It is manageable in size, so visitors can explore it comfortably in one or two hours.
The collection includes an authentic metal carriage that belonged to former President Ismael Montes and 18th-century Spanish armor. These objects show personal possessions from two very different chapters of the city's story.
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