Casa Mouat in Valparaíso reopens after $1m conservation

On September 7, Casa Mouat, a historic residence located in Valparaíso, Chile, will reopen following a year-long conservation effort costing $1 million, conducted by Chile’s National Service for Cultural Heritage. This adobe building from the 19th century is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once served as the Lord Cochrane Museum. After being managed by the municipality until 2019, it was transferred to the cultural ministry in 2020. The restoration preserved various architectural features and 18th-century cannons, with Macarena Carroza highlighting the significance of the roof replacement. Constructed by Scottish watchmaker John Mouat in the early 1840s, it was the site of the first astronomical observatory on the Pacific coast and was designated a National Historic Monument in 1963. The renovated Casa Mouat will now accommodate the Valparaíso Regional Archive and an information center.