- Year of foundation: 2013
- Address: Rincon 619, Montevideo 11008, Uruguay
- Phone: +598 2916 9461
- E-mail: info@mandes.uy
- Official website: www.mandes.uy
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10: 00-17: 00, Sat 10: 00-15: 00, Sun - closed
The museums of Uruguay are original and amazing. In no country in the world can you find the museums of gauchos and wrecks assembled together, fine arts and ceramic tiles , carnival and Portuguese culture . Another unusual museum of the country is the "Andes 1972", which was opened in Montevideo in honor of one sad event. Our article will tell you more about it.
What is the museum dedicated to?
In 1972, on October 13, there was a plane crash - the collapse of the Fairchild 227, in which the Uruguayan rugby team and family members flew to Chile. Of all the passengers survived only 16 people (29 were killed), many were injured. Being in the mountains, at an altitude of 4000 m, they were absolutely not adapted to survival. Of supplies almost nothing survived, and warm clothes they did not have at all. But, despite the hardships, these people could survive in the frosty Andes for 72 days, and then return to normal life.
The founder of this private museum was not involved in the accident. However, many years later, he decided to pay tribute to the courage of the surviving people by organizing a museum. His brainchild quickly became popular. Today, many locals and tourists come to Uruguay from around the world.
Visitors note that, although the subject of the museum is psychologically difficult, at the same time, its visit is very informative. It helps to see from within the real heroic deeds of ordinary people. Here you can bring the children, pre-prepared them for a visit.
Exhibits of the museum
The basis of the museum exposition are:
- "Text boxes", telling a tragic story to visitors;
- sunglasses that the liner passengers used to protect their eyes from the bright light in the snow;
- a small radio (it was for him that the wreckers found out that the search works are not being conducted);
- maps, pointers and lots of photos.
If desired, guests of the museum can also watch the feature film "Alive", based on the events of 1972. In the future, the museum plans to equip an interactive room in which visitors can experience low mountain temperatures.
Excursions around the museum are conducted in Spanish and English. Despite the small size of the hall, tourists usually spend at least 1.5-2 hours to visit this museum.
At the museum there is a store that offers T-shirts, books, video products and other items dedicated to the tragedy in the Andes.
How to visit?
The museum is located in the old part of Montevideo , which is called Ciudad Vieja . It can be reached by any city bus, coming out at the Ciudad Vieja stop.