The Exposition

The scenes bring us back to the history lived in the southern area of Buenos Aires, the theory of the wise Argentinean Florentino Ameghino, the skull found in the Northern basin of the port of Buenos Aires, connecting us with the presence of the man denominated Dypothromo.

Advancing in history, the “pampa” also leads us to the “Querandíes” whose origin is ignored and to whom the name Hets or Pampas has been granted. These tribes seem to have witnessed the first Hispanic settlement in Rio de la Plata’s territory.

First Foundation of Bs.As.

The roots of the city of Buenos Aires lead us to the first settlement installed by Don Pedro of Mendoza on February 3, 1536. There are various theories about the place where the fort of “Santa María de los Buenos Aires” was erected. Hunger and the dispute with the natives took to the decision of evacuating it in 1541. However, the need of an active port and the threat of possible invasions, made the existence of a town near to the Atlantic Ocean essential.

Second Foundation of Bs.As.

Pursuing this objective, on June 11, 1580 Juan of Garay, founds and organizes the city of the “Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires”, in the lot that presently occupies the “Plaza de Mayo”.

The Malón

Living together with the natives becomes bloody, races mix, appearing the “mestizo”. There is a social marginalization and a pejorative way of referring to the figure that inhabits our pampas: The Gaucho. Orphan of two civilizations: the European and the native one. The Gaucho sets up his ranch without keeping in mind private property. He feeds himself with meat and “mate”, and in spite of his solitary nature he comes closer to the “pulpería”, where a simple insinuation is reason for a fight. That nomad inherited the Spanish art of riding well, reflecting it at ease in the taming of wild livestock.

The Taming

The need of manpower which the local inhabitant did not offer, in the XVI century results in slave-trade in “Rio de la Plata”. These slaves are discriminated, but are loyal to their tradition and the candombe dance, achieved with the rhythm of drums starts to vibrate in the streets, and at that compass people of black race danced.

In the port, the cuarteador was always present, one of those many occupations which evolution has taken along with it.

With their horses and their leather ropes, they took in ships into the harbor and they their loads. In these ships, hopeful immigrants arrived; who among so many flavors, languages and diverse customs, brought along the rooster fights which strongly influenced the high game spirit of the local “criollos”. Once forbidden, they still continued to practice this game in secrecy.

The Duel

But the foreign influence could not fade away the popular dance of the Rio de la Plata: Tango, born in the ports of both banks of Rio de la Plata. At that time it was only music. Excluded to the suburbs, it was danced by the “compadritos” (proud men), and only when the Tango gets connected to poetry and “lunfardo” (social dialect of the Buenos Aires social underworld) it abandons the suburbs to settle itself in festive halls and in the essence of the Argentinean culture.

Melodies... musical scores... brushstrokes... art. Everything leads to Benito Quinquela Martín and Juan de Dios Filiberto. The first one, was the man that put color to a neighborhood, the second one is a synonym the La Boca tango. Talking of La Boca is talking of those great friends, as if the existence of one would not be possible without the other.

Not in vain it is affirmed that this is one of the most original places of the city. Several important people have passed by like the politician Juan Manuel de Rosas, admiral Guillermo Brown, writers Dr. Jorge Garrido and Antonio Bucich, sport-commentator Bernardino Veiga and many others who consolidated together with tenacious inhabitants the República de la Boca.