Ushuaia Maritime Museum and Former Presidio : info and guided tour

Overview of the Ushuaia Maritime Museum and Former Presidio

The Ushuaia Maritime Museum and Former Presidio occupies the former prison in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina. Set within a large stone-built complex, it presents both the maritime history of the region and the story of the prison site, which has become one of the city’s best-known heritage landmarks.

The museum preserves the austere atmosphere of the presidio, with narrow corridors, cells and detention areas that recall the building’s original purpose. Its appeal also lies in its gradual transformation into a cultural space, where the prison architecture now frames exhibition rooms dedicated to navigation, exploration and local history.

The site is famous for its dual identity, a history museum and a tangible reminder of Ushuaia’s former penal system. Visitors can discover collections linked to maritime expeditions, life in the Beagle Channel and the history of Tierra del Fuego, as well as sections evoking the prisoners, the building’s uses and its role in the city’s development.

The visit includes iconic features such as the vaulted galleries, restored cells and themed rooms installed in the former wings. Together, they offer a rare overview of local history and of how an old presidio became one of Ushuaia’s leading cultural landmarks.

Discover Ushuaia with a private guide

A private guide can help you better understand the overlap between the prison’s history, the building’s architecture and the maritime collections. Their insights provide useful context on the spaces to explore, the city’s background and the museum’s heritage value, while making the visit easier to follow.