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Experience 'The Expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866)': A Landmark Scientific & Photographic Exhibition

Journey through Spain's pioneering 19th-century scientific exploration of South America, featuring natural history collections.

Uncover the compelling story of 'The Expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866)', a significant Spanish scientific endeavor. This permanent display chronicles the 'Scientific Commission's' journey through South America, showcasing over 80,000 collected specimens and cultural artifacts. Explore historical documents, scientific instruments, and early photographic works that capture this groundbreaking 19th-century exploration.

About The expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866) at National Museum of Science and Technology in Madrid

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for The expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866) at National Museum of Science and Technology in Madrid

Exhibition summary

This permanent exhibition chronicles the 'Scientific Commission of the Pacific' (1862-1866), Spain's first scientific expedition to include a photographer. It details the journey through South America, the collection of over 80,000 specimens and artifacts, and the subsequent exhibition of these findings in Spain. Visitors can see scientific tools, specimens, historical documents, and digital copies of early photographs.

Curatorial context

The permanent exhibition 'The expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866)' delves into the story of the 'Scientific Commission of the Pacific,' a pioneering Spanish scientific endeavor that traversed South America by sea and land between 1862 and 1866. Uniquely, this expedition included a photographer, Rafael Castro y Ordóñez, whose work is featured alongside the vast collection of over 80,000 animal species, plants, and anthropological objects shipped back to Spain. The exhibition showcases the tools used by scientists for sample collection, alongside mummified or alcohol-preserved specimens, prints, documents, and historical publications related to the expedition. Visitors will encounter digitalized images from the negatives taken by Rafael Castro y Ordóñez, presented for the first time at the Museum after being processed using the wet-collodion process in 2005. The exhibition also highlights specimens collected by notable figures such as Joaquín González Hidalgo (terrestrial mollusks), Ignacio Bolívar (arthropods), Francisco Martínez y Sáez (crustaceans), and Marcos Jiménez de la Espada (reptiles). Original publications and a catalog of the exhibition are also available, offering further insights into this significant historical and scientific undertaking.

Admission and ticket notes

Information regarding ticket sales for museum entry is available through the provided link. Specific details about admission requirements or pricing for this exhibition are not detailed on this page, but it is presented as a permanent exhibition at the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN). Visitors are directed to a ticketing portal for purchasing tickets. A catalog for the exhibition is also available for purchase from the Museum Shop for 35€.

The expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866) key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for The expedition to the Pacific (1862-1866) at National Museum of Science and Technology in Madrid

Venue
National Museum of Science and Technology
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
The exhibition features the work of photographer Rafael Castro y Ordóñez, alongside scientific collections and contributions from Joaquín González Hidalgo, Ignacio Bolívar, Francisco Martínez y Sáez, and Marcos Jiménez de la Espada.
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