Torre Reloj de Pisagua: History and Features #Iquique

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Located in Pisagua, Huara commune (Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region), it was declared a National Historic Monument by Supreme Decree No. 746 on October 5, 1977 (Wikipedia, chilepatrimonios.gob.cl).
Built in 1887, it replaced an obelisk erected in 1881 to honor those who fell in the Battle of Pisagua during the War of the Pacific.
The 12-meter-tall wooden tower uses the prefabricated Balloon Frame construction system and rests on the pedestal of the original obelisk.
Designed in Neoclassical style, it has three stepped levels: the first with a balcony, the second with four windows, and the third housing the clock face. Its design makes it a distinctive landmark, almost like a visual “beacon.”
Over the years, it has suffered damage from weather, neglect, and earthquakes (notably in 1987, 2001, and 2005), prompting restoration work since 2012, with a second phase pending.
The monument also has a complex historical context: Pisagua was used as a political detention center during the military regime, giving the tower additional significance as part of the nation’s painful memory.

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Located in Pisagua, Huara commune (Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region), it was declared a National Historic Monument by Supreme Decree No. 746 on October 5, 1977 (Wikipedia, chilepatrimonios.gob.cl).
Built in 1887, it replaced an obelisk erected in 1881 to honor those who fell in the Battle of Pisagua during the War of the Pacific.
The 12-meter-tall wooden tower uses the prefabricated Balloon Frame construction system and rests on the pedestal of the original obelisk.
Designed in Neoclassical style, it has three stepped levels: the first with a balcony, the second with four windows, and the third housing the clock face. Its design makes it a distinctive landmark, almost like a visual “beacon.”
Over the years, it has suffered damage from weather, neglect, and earthquakes (notably in 1987, 2001, and 2005), prompting restoration work since 2012, with a second phase pending.
The monument also has a complex historical context: Pisagua was used as a political detention center during the military regime, giving the tower additional significance as part of the nation’s painful memory.