UJ#5 Paracas

Larco Museum
IN 1960, THE LARCO
MUSEUM MOVED TO
ITS PRESENT LOCATION
IN PUEBLO LIBRE, A
DISTRICT OF LIMA
Centre: Larco Cafe Restaurant
Museum offers the best in
Peruvian food in an inviting
spot located in an old, Lima
mansion.
Right: A dowry of gold for the
afterlife was buried with the
Lord of Chan Chan.
entities know what they are doing economically and
in their marketing.
In Peru we have some examples of good cultural
resources that became attractions and then finally
products, thanks to smart, private development
efforts. Included are the Caral Special Archaeological
Project, The Huaca of the Moon, The Huaca of the
Witch, and The Huaca Pucllana. The problem with all
of these projects is that they are individual efforts, not
national policies. The directors of these projects are
archaeologists and should be considered heroes in
the conservation of Peruvian cultural patrimony.
How does the Museum see its work in other
areas of the country, outside the north?
The new focus of the Museum is to show all of Peru
like a coherent total. The Museum is still associated
with the ancient cultures of northern Peru because of
its original pieces and, in particular, because of the
quality of the Moche pieces. But the Larco Museum
has an extensive collection that reflects not only the
northern pre-Columbian people, but also the Nasca
and the Incas, among others.
The vision of the Larco Museum is to be the doorway
into ancient Peru. That means that when a child has
to study a pre-Columbian culture, that she can find
a friendly, informative and age appropriate tool that
can help her learn about ancient Peru. We hope
that every Peruvian who really wants to learn about
ancient Peru also visits the Museum, and that visitors
to Lima also stop by the Larco Museum. That is
the vision we are working towards. We have not
gotten there yet, but it is where we are going and will
continue going.
What kind of public is the Larco Museum
trying to reach and why?
As Unesco says, all cultural products should be
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