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 Estimated reading time: 1 min. |
  Karina Jozami |
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“This is a different world view of history”, asserts Martín Rivas, a student of marketing strategies who in summer afternoons receives tourists at the “Calafate” Historical Interpretation Center. This new museum, inaugurated in October 1st 2003, is the result of research, work and development performed by the History professor Luis Calleja together with Martín and the assistance of Anthropologist Alicia González, apart from a team of archaeologists specialized in Patagonia, who reviewed every item.
The didactic ride has been strategically thought to introduce us to the history of Southern Patagonia since its very birth.
Through timelines expressed on panels written both in Spanish and in English, illustrations and photographs, gigantographies, exhibition of objects, utensils and replicas of certain elements, apart from sonorous reports that accompany the itinerary, we go through fourteen thousand years of human and environmental history. Glacier processes and ecological transformations from the Pleistocene, megafauna and cave paintings faithfully reflect prehistoric Patagonia. How the tehuelche culture arose and consolidated and the first encounters with colonists, the peak of ovine production and the great estancias, the labor conflict and Patagonian strikes with their tragic outcomes, lead us to the origins of the city of El Calafate. |
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A relay on the way
It was founded in December 7, 1927, by an order of the national government which designated 500ha. to the south of the Santa Cruz River on the Lake Argentino. Its name responds to the existence of a stout calafate that used to grow near the stream crossing the town and was used as a relay for cartwrights, who would transport wools from one estancia to another. Very close to that spot, the first grocery started to work. It had been built by Armando Guillón and in 1913 it was sold to some immigrants from La Coruña, the José Pantín family. Not only did they exploit the grocery but they also opened a lodge that rapidly became a relay in the Andean paths.
Cecilio Freile’s family, Pantín’s brother-in-law, had also come with them and in 1915 settled another lodge six leagues away, on the banks of the Mitre River. And Lorenzo Toso did likewise on the opposite bank of the lake with “La Argentina”, and so did the Noyas and the Casas, Julia and Sánchez’s lodge.
The disturbance caused by the revolutionary strike initiated in 1921 until the following year moved the national government to project the urbanization of the Andean areas, taking as a reference the relay of El Calafate. |
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In 1946 the measurement of the town was approved and the General Administration of National Parks and Tourism was authorized to build the Los Glaciares National Park Superintendency. In November the same year, the government of the Province of Santa Cruz authorized the creation of the Lago Argentino Public Works Committee, by neighbors’ request. Nevertheless, the scarce amount of residents delayed the transformation of El Calafate into a municipality till 1973, and territories were transferred to the common land by July 1978. Once democracy was established, in 1983 El Calafate had his first elected mayor: Mr. Salvador Lara.
After retracing history’s steps, I have a word with Martín at the Interpretation Center coffee-shop, where mate tastings are experimented. There is also a cozy sitting-room which offers more than one hundred volumes of textbooks about Patagonia and photo albums, for those who still feel like learning more. |
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From Av. del Libertador and 9 de julio, walk 4 blocks along this street towards the Nimes lagoon. Cross the stream and take the path on the right till you get to Av. Brown and G. Bonmelli.
There are transfer services at 10:30am and at 3:30pm. Ask for information in advance by phone: 492799. |
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from 10am to 8pm. |
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The Center also has a small but interesting library, access for handicapped people and a snack bar. Try to make yourself some time for a cup of coffee or a chat with Professor Calleja. |
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Centro de Interpretación Histórica
Av. Brown y G. Bonmelli (9405) El Calafate - Santa Cruz - Argentina
Tel: +54 2902 49-2799
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At the Calafate Historical Interpretation Center, we are constantly updating and gathering information and materials and working with well-known professionals of the area, such as the archeologists Rafael Paunero and Augusto Cardich, who have assisted us from the beginning of this project.
For me, it is a great satisfaction to welcome schools, kindergardens, youths and grown-ups formation centers, both public and private. The guides, receptionists and people devoted to tourism in general, also come here to enlarge their knowledge about the area and to exchange information.
Martín L. Rivas
Commercial Manager Partner
Historical Interpretation Center
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