Gold in the Americas

The quest for gold has left a profound imprint on the history of the Americas.

From the gold of pre-Columbian civilizations to the industrial gold of today, the exhibition Gold in the Americas offers a fascinating peek into the lives of the
peoples who forged the New World. The glitter of gold has penetrated even the remotest of regions, sparking adoration, expeditions, and conquests. Aboriginal
peoples, conquerors, colonists, explorers, and entrepreneurs have all played a role in this quest.

The exhibition tells its story in four complementary themes:
“The Flesh of the Gods” delves into the theme of gold as venerated treasure. The sacred, even divine qualities attributed to gold by pre-Hispanic peoples extend into
the symbolic uses made of the metal by religious and civil authorities.

“Gold of the Powers” provides an opportunity to focus on a more prosaic world view. The appetites of the new 15th and 16th century European arrivals transform gold
into a tool of power. The gleaming metal inspires dreams of grandeur, such as Eldorado, as well as myriad examples of less-than-lustrous behavior.

“Dream Chasers” looks at the more recent outbreaks of gold fever that swept North America, especially in California (1848) and along the Klondike River in the Yukon (1896). In both cases, the discovery of gold sparked a veritable rush (close to 100,000 prospectors converged on the Yukon).

Lastly, “Gold, King of Metals” divulges gold’s physical properties and modern-day uses. This section of the exhibition examines our scientific knowledge of the yellow metal and the evolution of mining technology and techniques.

An elemental archetype, panacea of happiness, elixir of life, and metaphor for triumph, rare and glittering gold casts a powerful spell, awakens passions, and has
driven multiple transformations in human history. Is it not gold the coveted goal of the aspiring demigods who compete in our modern-day Olympics?

The exhibition is accompanied by a magnificently illustrated catalog.

All that glitters… will not necessarily be part of this prestige exhibition

However, the treasures to be loaned from the collections of our top-tier confirmed partners augur for an outstanding museum experience for visitors to Gold in the Americas.

Latin American partners include Museo Larco of Peru and Museo del Oro of Colombia. Mexico’s Museo Nacional de Antropologia and Museo Nacional del Virreinato have also confirmed their involvement, as have two European partners, Madrid’s Museo de América and the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle de Paris. From the United States, the Oakland Museum and the California Historical Society will round out Canadian contributions by the Dawson Museum in the Yukon, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, and Museum of Fine Arts in Montréal, not to mention a number of fine pieces from Musée de la civilisation.

Physical Content

Approximately 250 collection pieces
Archive and contemporary images and illustrations
Graphic design and bilingual texts (English/French) in electronic format
Furnishings, decor, and audiovisual and computer equipment

Target Audience and educational material

The exhibition is aimed at a general adult audience. A complementary educational program is also available.

Space requirement

The exhibition requires a space of approximately 8,500 sq. ft. with a 12' ceiling.

Setup and teardown
A resource person from Musée de la civilisation will be available on site for setup and teardown.

Requirements for host museum

Renewal of object loan agreements
Maximum security and full insurance coverage

Tour hosting cost

Please call for information.

Availability
Tour schedule