Laura Montoya Upegui was canonized by Pope Francis in 2013, becoming the first and only Colombian saint.
The museum collection includes handwritten journals and personal correspondence from Mother Laura detailing her observations of indigenous culture.
The institution is managed by the religious congregation she founded, the Lauritas Sisters.
The site acts as a pilgrimage destination for Catholics visiting Medellín due to the presence of her remains in the nearby mausoleum.
The museum's ethnographic collection was largely assembled between 1914 and 1930 during her mission treks into the Colombian rainforest.
The Mother Laura Ethnographic Museum is dedicated to the life and missionary work of Laura Montoya Upegui, Colombia's first saint. Located in the Belencito neighborhood of Medellín, the museum preserves artifacts collected by Mother Laura during her travels among indigenous communities in the early 20th century. The collection highlights the cultural heritage of tribes such as the Emberá and Kuna. Exhibits feature traditional clothing, hunting implements, and indigenous religious instruments. The building itself is historically significant as it occupies the site where Mother Laura founded the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and Saint Catherine of Siena. It serves as both a historical record of missionary efforts and an anthropological archive of regional indigenous diversity. Visitors can explore the intimate living quarters where the saint resided during her final years.
The central courtyard garden featuring a statue of Mother Laura.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding neighborhood to observe the local murals.
Ask the museum staff about the specific history of the indigenous artifacts, as they often provide deep context not found in labels.
Coordinate your arrival with a local guide if you require detailed English explanations, as primary documentation is primarily in Spanish.
Do not attempt to visit without confirming opening days, as the museum frequently hosts private religious events that restrict access.
Closed on Mondays and major national holidays.
Modest clothing is required as the site includes a religious sanctuary; speak in low tones.
