The Cabildo of Salta was the seat of the local government until 1888, when the municipal authorities sold the building to private owners.
Following its sale, the building functioned as a police station and a jail for several decades before being restored as a museum.
The structure retains its original thick adobe walls and traditional wooden roof beams typical of late 18th-century Andean architecture.
It is one of the few remaining Cabildos in the country that has maintained its original floor plan and structural integrity.
The collection includes significant items from the 1810-1825 period, specifically focusing on the battles fought in the Salta region against Royalist forces.
The History Museum of the North is housed within the historic Cabildo of Salta, a colonial building constructed in 1782 that served as the administrative center during the Spanish era. It is one of the best-preserved Cabildo structures in Argentina, featuring a two-story arched gallery and a traditional whitewashed facade. The museum's permanent collection focuses on the history of the Salta province, including indigenous cultures, the Spanish conquest, and the region's pivotal role in the Argentine War of Independence. Visitors can explore period rooms that showcase colonial-era furniture, religious art, and historical documents. The museum also maintains a collection of artifacts related to General Martín Miguel de Güemes and his gaucho militia. It remains an essential site for understanding the geopolitical evolution of Northern Argentina. The structure itself is a National Historic Monument.
The second-floor balcony looking down over the Plaza 9 de Julio provides an excellent architectural framing of the city center.
Look for the scale model of the city to understand how Salta's urban layout has changed since the colonial era.
Check the internal courtyard, which provides a quieter perspective of the architecture away from the plaza's main thoroughfare.
Read the placards detailing the specific transition of the building from a government seat to a museum.
Do not mistake the nearby MAAM (Museum of High Mountain Archaeology) for this museum, as they are separate institutions with different collections.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet tone; photography is permitted but avoid using flash near sensitive textile displays.
