Ameghino Museum and Peuser Library

These two institutions are easy to find, as they are located at both ends of the beltway at Cipolletti. Ameghino Museum and the Universidad Nacional del Comahue Library (Education Science College) are highly praised for their reputation as education establishments and they share the fact of having belonged to colonists who resolved to settle down in Patagonia, taking advantage of the economic expansion period.

First we visited the Ameghino Museum. We went around its rooms and recognized bird, reptile, mineral and fossil specimens picked up in the area. The museum was created by historian and paleontologist Roberto Abel in 1971. Important fossil remains from the Cretaceous, in the Mesozoic Era, can be observed inside the venue. These include a carnivorous dinosaur from Patagonia, a sauropodus head, tetrapods and some other items still undergoing the assembly stage. Likewise, part of the history of the early days and foundation of the city is reflected in written pieces, photographs and various accounts on display.

Then we left the museum and headed for the library, where we were welcomed by a very large building. Known as Palacio Peuser, this grand house was built by an old family in the early twentieth century as their summer house. It features French architectural style and is a replica of the Petit Trianon in Versailles, made with magnificent materials and delicate lines.

Both venues contribute with a space for culture in the city. We appreciated their incredible appearance and research material, which let us get deep into the local idiosyncrasy.