Historical Museo de Colchagua in Santa Cruz was opened in 1995 by Chilean businessman Carlos Cardona. The mansion that houses the Museum was badly damaged in the earthquake in February 2010. The Museum remained closed for eight months for various repairs. About 60% of the Museum's collection were damaged, and a collection of pre-Columbian art was completely destroyed. Again to take its visitors the Museum was only in October 2010.

It has a collection of about 7,000 exhibits that relate to paleontology, archaeology and the history of Chile and the world. The Museum is now open to 23 of the hall. To visit all the halls with the guide, it will take almost 4 hours. Each room is dedicated to a single topic. The exposition on paleontology contains the fossilized remains of various species of fauna and flora. The exhibition "Prehistoric Chile" is dedicated to the history of the indigenous people of pre-Hispanic cultures of the continent.

The collection contains documents and personal items that belonged to Pedro de Valdivia (the recognized founder of Chile, who lived in the XVI century), and a collection of weapons, household items, coins and antique furniture of those times, as well as a collection of sacred items XVII and XVIII centuries.

On the stands you can see unique exhibits, such as the Constitutive act of the Government junta of Chile from 1810, piano that belonged to Bernardo O'higgins (known to the military policies of the beginning of XIX century), the insignia of President josé Miguel Carrera (one of the founding fathers of Chile of the late XVIII - early XIX century).

The exhibition presents models of cars from different eras, weapons used by mankind since ancient times until the Second world war. There is a "Hall of great salvation," which tells of the tragedy of the 33 miners for the exposition of the Museum was marked by the British newspaper "The Independent" as the best Museum that touches on social issues in a society.

Historical Museo de Colchagua is located in downtown Santa Cruz and is open every day throughout the year, except holidays.