National Library with Bernardo O'Higgins Mausoleum

The National Library was one of the first institutions, along with the National University and several institutes, since the founding of the Republic of Chile. On August 19, 1813, the government issued an appeal to the citizens of Chile asking them to provide books for the establishment of library collections. The library was suspended in 1814 due to military operations in Santiago. However, since 1817 it has been actively developing and expanding its book collection.

Today, the library is located in a beautiful building, which is an architectural monument in the neoclassical style, the construction of which began in 1913, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Library. In the same building is the mausoleum of Bernardo O’Higgins, the supreme ruler of Chile, who proclaimed the independence of the republic. He died in 1842 in Lima, Peru, but his remains were taken to Santiago, Chile.