Museum of Memory & Human Rights

"Museo de la Memoria There’s something within these walls—perhaps simply the silence—that helps visitors imagine the real-world horrors that once took place in Chile . A visit to Santiago ’s Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos is a trip through the darkest hours of Chilean history, those surrounding the military dictatorship that ran from 1973 to 1990 which left behind thousands of victims and unsolved “disappearances.” The museum is a modern, almost 54,000-square-foot (5000-square-meter) facility that recounts the sickening history, soberly, in the form of survivor testimonies as well as in displays of victims’ correspondence and personal items. There are also radio reports, press clippings, drawings and literature, alongside other artifacts of a past from which often only fragments remain. A prominent mural shows the faces of those no longer with us. On the third-floor, screening booths play related documentaries. The museum is a must for anyone looking to understand today’s Chile . By Travesías"

"Museo de la Memoria There’s something within these walls—perhaps simply the silence—that helps visitors imagine the real-world horrors that once took place in Chile . A visit to Santiago ’s Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos is a trip through the darkest hours of Chilean history, those surrounding the military dictatorship that ran from 1973 to 1990 which left behind thousands of victims and unsolved “disappearances.” The museum is a modern, almost 54,000-square-foot (5000-square-meter) facility that recounts the sickening history, soberly, in the form of survivor testimonies as well as in displays of victims’ correspondence and personal items. There are also radio reports, press clippings, drawings and literature, alongside other artifacts of a past from which often only fragments remain. A prominent mural shows the faces of those no longer with us. On the third-floor, screening booths play related documentaries. The museum is a must for anyone looking to understand today’s Chile . By Travesías"

How to Spend 24 Hours in Santiago (Updated 2025)

"Opened in 2010 and inaugurated by the President, I found the Museo de la Memoria to be a powerful, beautifully designed space that commemorates Chile’s violent recent history under Pinochet; the modern architecture (with structural beams exposed on the exterior) was deliberately chosen to symbolize how all Chileans were affected. The exhibits include videos, photos and interactive displays in both English and Spanish, and you can take a guided tour in either language or use an audio guide. I only allotted half a day when I visited and felt there was far more to see — if you can, spend a full day; admission is free." - Matthew Kepnes