Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

There’s change afoot in Mexico’s small colonial town of El Triunfo. After nearly a century of decline, the sleepy community—at one point the largest settlement in the Baja California peninsula—is now abuzz with hundreds of tourists each weekend. How was El Triunfo transformed from mining ghost town to Baja’s new “it” spot? At the center of El Triunfo’s renaissance is the Ruta de Plata complex, a 200 square meter regional interpretive center designed to: 1) Reinvigorate the local economy; 2) Pay tribute to the rich history of the region’s minerals and mining industry; 3) Become a prominent destination for historians and history buffs, artists, students, educators and tourists. This study unpacks the two-year process that brought together historians, designers, artists, investors, business planners, and the local community to create a sustainable, world-class cultural destination.