DAY 70 (1 OF 4) – MUSEO MARITIMO, USHUAIA, TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA

Perhaps nowhere else is more suitable to build a prison than at the “end of the world”. Before its closure in 1947, the Ushuaia prison housed many reoffenders and political prisoners from all over the nation. Housed in the asterisk shaped building with an activity court as the pivotal point, the former prison was converted into a museum complex in the 1990s. The museum complex Museo Maritimo includes the Maritime Museum, Prison Museum, Antarctic Museum, and Art Gallery. Exhibitions are located mainly in the former prison cells. We spent the morning at the complex, and were particularly interested in the Prison Museum and Antarctic Museum. In one building wing, stories of some well-known inhabitants of the former prison were told with text and photos, one story in each prison cell. Another wing of the old prison was preserved without renovation to show the former condition of the building. Although small, the Antarctic Museum was an interesting showcase of exploration stories on the ice continent by various expedition teams.

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Read more on Ushuaia in 2013 South America
Day 69.1 – Magellan Straight
Day 69.2 – Arrival, Ushuaia
Day 69.3 – Fuegian Grill, Ushuaia
Day 70.1 – Museo Maritimo, Ushuaia
Day 70.2 – Chiko Restaurant, Ushuaia
Day 70.3 – Beagle Channel & Isla H
Day 70.4 – Kalma Resto, Ushuaia
Day 71.1 – Pier, Ushuaia
Day 71.2 – Fuegian Trees, near Estancia Harberton
Day 71.3 – Penguins, Martillo Island
Day 71.4 – Estancia Harberton
Day 71.5 – Kaupe Restaurant, Ushuaia
Day 72.1 – Post Office, Isla Redonda, Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
Day 72.2 – Senda Costera & Bahia Lapataia, Parque Nacional Tierra Del Fuego
Day 73 – Stranded in Ushuaia Airport

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought