The museum is situated opposite the central park of La Democracia, which is notable for its display of large prehispanic sculptures in the potbelly style.[1] La Democracia is situated in the department of Escuintla at an altitude of 165 metres (541 ft) above mean sea level.[2] It is 92 kilometres (57 mi) from Guatemala City.[1] The local climate is hot, with an average temperature of 35 °C (95 °F).[2]
History
The museum was founded in February 1966 at the instigation of Rubén Chévez van Dorne, who had regularly been given pre-Columbian ceramic pieces by teachers working on a cotton plantation in the neighbouring municipality of La Gomera, who observed that archaeological remains were frequently uncovered by tractors.[3] The museum was placed in a school building that was refurbished by INGUAT, the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism; it had previously housed the Escuelas Urbanas de la Democracia.[3] The museum opened its doors on 22 May 1972.[3] As part of the refurbishment, Guatemalan artist Guillermo Grajeda Meno painted 21 murals within the museum.[3]
Collection
Aside from its archaeological collection, the museum possesses an exhibition of modern art by Guatemalan artists, displayed on the upper floor.[1] The museum also holds a collection of historical books and documents.[1] The anthropomorphic sculpture of a head outside the museum entrance was loaned for two months for display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.[4]
Chévez van Dorne, Rubén (1999) [First published 1978], "Cultura Monte Alto", Mundo Impresos, Guatemala City, OCLC63315619
INFORPRESSCA. "La Democracia, Escuintla" (in Spanish). Guatemala City: Servicio de Información Municipal. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (c. 1997). La Democracia: Panorama cultural: Museo de Arqueología - Museo de Arte (in Spanish). Guatemala: Editorial Cultura.
