Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works are two former saltpeter refineries located in northern Chile. They were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, as a testament to the historical importance of saltpeter mining in Chile and the culture and social agenda that developed around it in the late 19th century. The works were placed on the World Heritage List in Danger that same year, due to the fragility of the derelict buildings, but were removed in 2019 following significant restoration and conservation work.

Geography

Humberstone and Santa Laura are located 48.1km east of the city of Iquique in the Atacama Desert in the Tarapacá Region in northern Chile. In 1970, after becoming ghost towns in the Atacama Desert, they were declared national monuments. Despite this protection, they suffered from dismantling and looting.

In 2001, Humberstone was remodeled when it served as a film set for the soap opera Pampa Ilusión. The celebration of Saltpeter Week became key for former pampinos (saltpeter workers) to fight for the protection of the office. This led to the formation of the Saltpeter Museum Corporation, which took steps to have both saltpeter works declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2005.

Architecture and features

Humberstone and Santa Laura are among the main tourist attractions of Tamarugal Province. Although years of weathering and looting had severely deteriorated these sites, impressive restoration work by the Saltpeter Museum Corporation and the Tarapacá Regional Government has enabled many of the main spaces.

Most of Humberstone's central buildings, including its large theater, church, and company store (pulpería), were constructed entirely or partially from imported Oregon pine wood. The site reveals stark contrasts between the large administrative buildings and owner residences versus the small dwellings of the pampino workers. Humberstone provided housing according to the worker's position within the company (employees, professionals, and workers; married and single), with access to drinking water, electricity, and sewerage.

Santa Laura is notable for its enormous chimney visible from great distances, its processing plant ("la máquina") made of Oregon pine and iron where the cooking pots (cachuchos) were located, and other interesting facilities including the crushing plant, power house, administration building, and main square.

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File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 82.jpg|View of Humberstone

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 61.jpg|Exterior of Humberstone Theater

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 63-65 HDR.jpg|Interior of Humberstone Theater

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 55.jpg|Exterior of Humberstone Church

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 54.jpg|Interior of Humberstone Church

File:Humberstone-- Joline & Neil.jpg|Humberstone Locomotive

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 23.jpg|Entrance to Humberstone

File:Santa Laura.JPG|Santa Laura plant

File:Santa Laura 5.jpg|Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

File:Santa Laura Machinery.jpg|Abandoned Machinery at Santa Laura

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 56.jpg|Clock at Humberstone

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 47.jpg|Mining cart

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 41.jpg|Kitchen in a worker's residence

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 28.jpg|Bedroom in worker's residence

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 31.jpg|Doctor's office

File:Piscina en acero de Oficina Salitrera Humberstone.jpg|Steel swimming pool

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 66.jpg|School desks

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 90.jpg|Kiosk

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 91.jpg|Tennis courts

File:Oficinas salitreras de Humberstone y Santa Laura, Chile, 2016-02-11, DD 25.jpg|Street in the saltpeter works

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See also

  • War of the Pacific
  • List of Saltpeter works in Tarapacá and Antofagasta
  • Pampa Ilusión

References

  • Oficina Humberstone, formerly La Palma
  • Chile's Mining Past Draws Tourists North: Santa Laura's pictures explaining saltpeter process
  • Explore Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works in the UNESCO collection on Google Arts and Culture
  • National Monuments Council - Oficina Salitrera Humberstone