Much excavation was required when building the celebrated Museum of the Bicentennial in Buenos Aires – and historians and archaeologist alike were elated to discover a valuable part of Argentina’s history in the process.
The elaborate museum – built to commemorate the bicentennial of Argentina in 2010 – was found to be situated atop the historic corridors of the former Taylor Customs Agency, which dates back to 1855, and over remains of the Buenos Aires Fort, built in 1580.
Now when visiting the museum, tourists can walk through the old brick arches, making for a significantly dramatic experience.
Inaugurated by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on May 24 as part of May Revolution celebrations, the Museum of the Bicentennial is now home to the infamous Plastic Exercise (1933) mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Siqueiros was commissioned by newspaper tycoon Natalio Botana to paint the massive, erotic mural in the basement of his country home, and until its recent relocation to the museum, the painting sat in crates for nearly 18 years.
The works of notable artists Luis Felipe Noe, Octavio Fioravanti, Aberto Schwartz, Luis Benedit also hang within the historic underground arcades.