Penal colonies

On our 1st day in Ushuaia, we visited a series of museums built in the old gaol and explores this great little town/city With no permanent settlement in the south of the country, Argentina established a 2nd offenders gaol. The idea was to colonise with convicts and reminded us very much of Port Arthur without the gracious buildings. It was established in January 1896 and in 1902, the military prison was merged with it. The current structure was built by the convicts themselves and they had displays of many other gaols in other countries built in the same way. eg. Melbourne. Four of the wings housed displays - the Presidio Militair - the Ushuaia Gaol and Military Prison, the Maritime Museum with many models and artefacts, Argentina and the Antarctic, an Art Gallery and a temporary exhibits hall. Ushuaia is the world's most southern city, a bit of a frontier town and we are looking forward to our few days here prior to our departure for Antarctica.