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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires attractions > Museo de la Ciudad | Museum of the City Museo de la Ciudad | Museum of the CityAlsina 412 (@ Defensa); Tel. + (011.54.11) 4331-9855
The Museo de la Ciudad should really just call itself the Sala de la Ciudad (City Living Room) since the exhibition aspect of the place is one big room full of, well, stuff. The museum was created in 1968 and was designed to show the evolution of Buenos Aires and its people through the examination of everyday – even mundane – articles. However, when observed all together in this context, the exhibition is really interesting and suddenly old wooden doors, mailboxes, buttons, shoeshine kits, corsets, doorknobs, and toilet fixtures are fascinating. These articles become real pieces of history. Even Porteños rushing past on the way to business meetings can’t help but stop and peek in the window at the displays. While the museum is small and quaint with its aging photographs and fragments of bygone days, the building itself is of note for several reasons. The plaque outside notes that it was once home to acclaimed Argentine actress Niní Marshall and the corner of Alsina and Defensa has been home to the Farmacia de la Estrella since 1900. The Farmacia de la Estrella is a brilliant pharmacy with an emphasis on homeopathic medicine and a space worth checking out. Chances are, even if you don’t go out of your way, a spin through the city will lead you to this notable street corner and into the Museo de la Ciudad. —Museo de la Ciudad | Museum of the City review by Clare Nisbet
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